A massive fire broke out at the historic First Baptist Dallas church on Friday evening, resulting in the collapse of much of the structure. The blaze, which began around 6 p.m. local time, has been contained as of Saturday morning, with no injuries or deaths reported.
First Baptist Dallas, a Baptist church with roots dating back to 1890, saw significant damage to its secondary chapel. Dallas Fire Rescue (DFR) responded to the initial call and arrived to find heavy smoke engulfing the building.
“The structure has largely collapsed, which has caused many void spaces with ‘hot spots’,” the city of Dallas stated in a communication to ABC News on Saturday. While the primary fire has been extinguished, DFR is maintaining an extended presence at the scene to address lingering hotspots and ensure a safe perimeter around the unstable structure.
Despite the extensive damage, church leadership remains optimistic. Dr. Robert Jeffress, a pastor at First Baptist Dallas, tweeted late Friday, “We are grateful that no one was injured today and are thankful for the first responders who helped contain the fire to our Historic Sanctuary. They continue working but the primary fire has been extinguished. One way or another, we intend to meet for church this Sunday.”
The fire department has not ordered any large-scale evacuations but is maintaining a safety perimeter around the affected area. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with authorities yet to provide details on potential origins or contributing factors.
This incident highlights the vulnerability of historic structures to fire damage and the challenges faced by first responders in managing such events. It also underscores the resilience of religious communities in the face of adversity, as evidenced by the church’s determination to hold services despite the significant damage to their building.
As the situation develops, local authorities and church officials will likely be assessing the extent of the damage and planning for potential restoration efforts. The community’s response to this event will be crucial in the coming days and weeks as First Baptist Dallas navigates the aftermath of this destructive fire.
