THE ROOF OF A TAMPA, FLORIDA CHURCH HAS COLLAPSED AFTER A 2-ALARM FIRE ROARED THROUGH IT MONDAY MORNING. THE CAUSE AND ORIGIN INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.
February 2,
2015
TAMPA,
FLORIDA (FOX 13) -
The flames
are mostly out after a church fire in Tampa.
The New
Salem Missionary Baptist Church, located at 405 N. Oregon Ave., caught fire
some time before 7 a.m. Monday.
Tampa Fire
and Rescue responded to the scene after receiving several 911 calls about smoke
coming from the church. The roof has since collapsed.
“The
primary one came in at 6:30 this morning so immediately we dispatched our first
unit out here,” explained a Tampa Fire and Rescue official at the scene.
The first
responders quickly realized the fire was more than just one crew could handle,
and upgraded it to a two-alarm fire.
Several
other crews arrived to the scene and have been fighting the fire defensively
since. The Tampa Fire spokesperson explained that's when the fire is so severe,
crews are unable to fight from the inside out. Instead, they douse the flames
from the outside.
With the
fire keeping crews from entering the church, they were unable to do an initial
search for anyone who may have been inside.
Officials
said there is an early-morning preschool that operates out of the church, but
believe the fire started before any children arrived.
“It could
have been worse. What we understand is they operate a daycare out of here, but
they hadn't yet opened up to receive any children.”
Crews are
continuing to fight hot spots in and around the church, and investigators are
still working to determine what caused the fire.
All the
activity is causing back-ups along nearby roads so officials are urging everyone
to avoid the area. You can use N. Boulevard or Rome Avenue as an alternate.
Drivers travelling east or westbound can take Cypress Street.
