OCALA, Fla – An overnight fire at St. Paul A.M.E. Church in Ocala left a church hall unsafe and the building condemned, officials said.
Ocala Fire Rescue crews were dispatched about 10:24 p.m. Saturday to a structure fire at the church. Firefighters arrived to find a two-story building filled with smoke, with smoke billowing from the rear, according to the department.
Recommended Videos
Firefighters faced zero visibility and extreme heat as they advanced hose lines and searched for the source of the fire, officials said.
Crews initially believed the fire originated on the second floor after spotting dark smoke and using thermal imaging that indicated temperatures were above 375 degrees at the top of a stairwell, officials said.
During a primary search, crews later located the seat of the fire in a first-floor assembly hall and repositioned to extinguish it.
After the fire was put out, crews checked for hot spots and potential extensions and ventilated the building.
A fire investigator and building inspector were requested, and officials later determined the fire was electrical and accidental, the department said.
The building was condemned because of extensive smoke and fire damage, officials said. No injuries were reported.
According to an official release, the Prevention Division, the Ocala Police Department, Ocala Electric Utility, the Building Department, and Marion County Fire Rescue also responded.