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Massive fire destroys historic church in Norristown

By and
Updated  January 8, 2025 8:06am EST
Crime & Public Safety
FOX 29 Philadelphia

Fire torches historic church in Norristown:

Firefighter battled a massive fire that torched a historic church in Norristown. Fire Chief Thomas O'Donnell said the church's architecture made it easy for the fire to spread throughout the building.

The Brief

    • No one was injured in a massive fire that torched a historic church in Norristown.
    • The fire broke out on Tuesday night and firefighters battled the blaze overnight.
    • Firefighters are unsure how the fire started and said the old architecture allowed fire to spread.
    • People inside the church reported hearing a loud boom before the fire broke out.

NORRISTOWN Pa. - Firefighters say no one was hurt in a massive fire that torched a historic church in Norristown that raged overnight amid freezing cold temperatures.

Firefighters were called to the Faith Tabernacle House of Prayer on Dekalb Street around 7 p.m. Tuesday for reports of a fire in the back of the building.

Norristown Fire Chief Thomas O'Donnell said the 18th century church's architecture, including heavy timber and small crevices, made it easy for the fire to spread.

"They battled it as much as they could, at some point we had to pull everybody out of the building and go into a defensive operation," O'Donnell said.

Firefighters battled the blaze through the overnight hours before the blaze was finally placed under control around 6 a.m. Wednesday.

"Hopefully the church can rebuild, we hate to see a place of worship suffer this type of loss," O'Donnell said. 

Investigators are unsure how the fire started. Firefighters reported that people were inside making meals for the homeless when they heard a loud boom.

It's unclear at this time if the boom was related to the fire.

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