Blaze Damages Vacant Church in Fayetteville

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Firefighters responded to a church fire that broke out overnight in downtown Fayetteville.

The fire occurred at Calvary Hill Missionary Baptist Church at 429 Gillespie St. Two ladder trucks had to be used to stop the fire.

Authorities said the church has been vacant for years, but the area is known to be frequented by homeless people. Fire officials said the blaze may have been started by a homeless person trying to keep warm. Clothes were found on the floor of the church.

Firefighters said the front door was ajar when they arrived. They had to use power saws to cut off the security bars on all the windows to ventilate the fire and get access to the fire. They said that delay allowed the fire to spread quickly.

Eight people in a nearby house were evacauated while crews worked to extinguish the fire. No one was injured.