KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) — Kalamazoo’s Fire Marshal says they aren’t sure yet what sparked a fire at a church in the East Side Neighborhood. Federal Agents have joined the investigation.
A neighbor spotted smoke at the Open Door Church of God in Christ on Phelps Avenue at about 1 p.m. Wednesday and called 911.
Shortly after fire crews arrived the roof fell in and one side of the building collapsed. Lt. Timothy Loso says smoke from the blaze could be seen from all over the Kalamazoo River Valley.
Parishioners say some of them were baptized in this church and attended services most of their lives. It’s a devastating blow for them.
It took two dozen PSO’s over four hours to douse the fire. The building is a total loss, and a home next door suffered exterior damage from the intense heat.
There were no injuries.
There have been nearly 200 fires at churches in the U.S. since 1996, a number of them have been hate crimes targeting African American congregations.
That’s why agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms will assist the local Fire Marshal, to determine what caused the fire.
(copy written by John McNeill)
