By Alexa Ashwell
ALEXANDER COUNTY, N.C. —
Officials said lightning caused Bethlehem Baptist Church to catch fire Saturday destroying its sanctuary.A witness captured video of the church’s steeple engulfed in flames minutes after officials said it was hit by a bolt of lightning during a storm that passed through the Taylorsville area.
“When it hit it was so loud. I actually jumped about 6 inches off the ground,” said Alexander Gagmon, who was across the street working on a home when the lightning hit the church.
Firefighters inside Bethlehem Community Fire and Rescue said they also heard the lightning strike the church, which sits just across the street from their department.
“We heard the lightning strike. We didn’t know where but it was big enough to shake our building,” Chief Ashley Starnes said.
Starnes said his firefighters responded and were quickly joined by crews from three counties.
“We did an all-call for Alexander County meaning every department,” Starnes said. “We also got help from crews in Catawba and Caldwell counties.”
Still, the fire quickly spread through the attic of the sanctuary and into the children’s center where Sunday School is held, said officials.
“The roof of that church has very old oak beams,” said Derek Whitehurst, a church Deacon. “It’s a very old church and it burned very quickly.”
Church leaders watched the sanctuary burn in disbelief and were thankful no one was inside the sanctuary when it caught fire.
“We had just wrapped up vacation Bible school earlier this week,” Whitehurst said. “We had the church full of kids it could have been a lot worse.”
Many members of the congregation also rushed to the church after learning it had caught fire.
“There have been a lot of hugs, prayers and consoling words,” said Wayne Caviness, senior pastor.
Caviness said what members of the congregation echoed, that they would rebuild.
Some members found hope within the debris.
“There was debris everywhere and I just saw this and so I picked it up,” Shyann Sigmi said. “A page from one of our hymn books -- the song, ‘I Love to Tell the Story.’ It was like God speaking to me. Telling me this church it doesn’t make our church. The people and the Holy Spirit make our church.”
Alexander County Emergency Management Director Russell Greene estimated up to 100 firefighters helped put out the fire, which was contained between 5-5:30 p.m.
The quick reactions of firefighters and a firewall may have helped salvage a remaining Fellowship hall and other classrooms.
Firefighters remained on scene throughout the night monitoring and extinguishing any hotspots or areas that may have reignited.
Some firefighters were treated on scene either as a precaution or for minor injuries, officials said. No major injuries were reported.
Church members said on Facebook that they plan to hold Sunday service at the nearby Bethlehem Elementary School around 10:30 a.m.