Published: February 22, 2008 09:51 pm            

Firefighters investigate church fire in Camby

CAMBY — Firefighters are investigating the cause of a fire that damaged a church on County Road 700 South early Thursday morning.

Plainfield Fire Battalion Chief Michael Hildebrand said firefighters were dispatched to the Indianapolis District Office Church of the Nazarene, 10610 E. C.R. 700 S., Camby, around 7 a.m. Thursday.

Hildebrand said when firefighters from Plainfield, Avon, and Decatur Township arrived at the scene, they found heavy smoke rolling from the church. He said they were able to contain the fire to the back office portion of the church, but did not realize then that the fire was also running underneath the floor boards.

“The fire went toward the sanctuary under the floor,” Hildebrand added. “That’s why it was so stubborn for us to fight.”

Hildebrand added that firefighters also had some difficulties because they were running low on the amount of water they had brought and the fact that there were no fire hydrants in the area. They had to call neighboring fire departments for additional water support, he said.

Hildebrand said it was around 10 a.m. by the time firefighters had the fire completely out.

Fire investigators from Plainfield and Decatur Township are now looking into the cause of the fire. Hildebrand said they believe it started in the utility room in the back of the church and spread from there.

“There’s significant interior damage to the church,” he added.

amanda.roach@flyergroup.com

        

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