DALLAS – A large downtown four-alarm fireplace at historic First Baptist Dallas has been “knocked down and contained,” fireplace officers stated late Friday.
The preliminary name reporting the fireplace at 1717 San Jacinto St. got here in simply after 6 p.m. Friday. Hearth officers upgraded it from a three-alarm fireplace to a four-alarm fireplace at about 8:15 p.m.
A spokesman for the church initially stated heavy smoke was coming from the historic sanctuary.
“The construction has largely collapsed, which has brought on many void areas with ‘scorching spots,'” Dallas Hearth-Rescue stated in a launch simply earlier than 10 p.m. “Whereas there isn’t any indication that the fireplace will escalate, DFR is anticipated to keep up an prolonged presence on the scene to extinguish all lingering areas of fireplace and to keep up a secure perimeter across the unstable constructing.”
No accidents have been reported. The fireplace’s trigger is beneath investigation, Dallas Hearth-Rescue stated.
The sanctuary was opened in 1890 and was in use till they moved into their new facility in 2013, stated Dr. Robert Jeffress, senior pastor of the 16,000-member, 156-year-old church.
Thought-about a big landmark in downtown Dallas, the church stated the sanctuary was “the positioning of visits from Presidents Woodrow Wilson, Gerald Ford, and George H. W. Bush. President Donald Trump visited the brand new worship middle of the church in 2021.”
“We’re grateful that no life has been misplaced that we all know of although we simply had 2,000 youngsters and volunteers on campus for Trip Bible College earlier within the day,” stated Jeffress, who grew up in First Baptist Dallas, was baptized within the sanctuary there at age 9 and ordained there at age 21.
“As tragic because the lack of this outdated sanctuary is, we’re grateful that the church is just not bricks and wooden however composed of over 16,000 people who find themselves decided greater than ever earlier than to succeed in the world for the gospel of Christ.”
In keeping with the Dallas Hearth Division, crews arrived at 6:09 p.m. to heavy smoke and fireplace. A second alarm was requested at 6:20 p.m. It was upgraded from a two-alarm to a three-alarm fireplace at about 7:30 p.m. after which to a four-alarm fireplace at about 8:15 p.m.
In keeping with CBS Information Texas meteorologist Jeff Ray, smoke and warmth from the fireplace could possibly be picked up on radar.
