A south suburban church was reduced to rubble after a fire engulfed the building Tuesday afternoon.
Around 3:35 p.m., aerial footage from NBC Sky 5 showed a large plume of smoke rising from a fire that engulfed the True Light Temple of Praise, a Baptist church located at 1602 Drexel Avenue in Ford Heights.
Firefighters at the scene used several hoses to spray the church, video showed. A large hole in the roof of the church could also be seen.
The church’s pastor, James Morgan, told reporters that two church members were inside trying to defrost pipes when the fire began. They were able to leave safety, he said.
“That was my life,” Pastor Morgan said. “I seen my life right in front of me go down.”
The church has been in the community for nearly 60 years and had been undergoing renovations recently, Morgan said.
Authorities said they saw heavy smoke coming from the back of the building and by the time they gained entry, the fire had spread throughout the whole roof.
“We’re going to continue to stand strong we’re going to stand as a family we’re going to pray together,” Morgan said. “We’re going to make it work.”
No additional information was immediately available.
Check back for more on this developing story.
