BREAKING: Historic Dallas Church Catches Fire

Firefighters battled a massive blaze at the historic First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas.

“Crews were called to the church at the corner of San Jacinto and North Ervay Street just after 6 p.m.,” FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth reports.

The inferno started as a two-alarm fire but quickly grew to four alarms.

“We have experienced a fire in the Historic Sanctuary.   To our knowledge, no one is hurt or injured, and we thank God for His protection. He is sovereign even in the most difficult times,” Dr. Robert Jeffress, the church’s pastor, said.

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH.
 
We have experienced a fire in the Historic Sanctuary.
 
To our knowledge, no one is hurt or injured, and we thank God for His protection. He is sovereign even in the most difficult times.
 
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for…

— Dr. Robert Jeffress (@robertjeffress) July 20, 2024

WATCH:

Church is now completely up in flames in downtown Dallas pic.twitter.com/1iYMbxDJU6

— Dallas Texas TV (@DallasTexasTV) July 20, 2024

FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth reports:

A second alarm was requested at 6:20 p.m.

Things seemed to be mostly under control until the flames rekindled around 6:30 p.m. after the partial collapse.

Dallas Fire-Rescue called for a fourth-alarm at 8:14 p.m.

Dozens of firefighters are on scene trying to control the flames and pushing people back to safety.

Operations are said to be defensive, meaning crews are just working to keep the fire from spreading.

BREAKING: We’re now seeing more flames and heavy smoke at First Baptist Dallas. Fire is getting significantly worse. People are being told to evacuate from blocks around the church. @FOX4 pic.twitter.com/Zaix4tVKdL

— David Sentendrey (@DavidSFOX4) July 20, 2024

“I was baptized there when I was 6, I was ordained in ministry when I was 21. It holds a lot of memories. We thank God that nobody has been hurt. We had just concluded vacation bible school with over 2,000 kids. They were all gone, so God has protected us through all this,” Jeffress told FOX 4.

“I’m grateful that the church is not bricks or mortar or wood, it’s people,” he added.

Footage of First Baptist Church Dallas, founded 1868. It’s a SBC church, currently led by Dr. Robert Jeffress.

This is the historic sanctuary, the cornerstone was laid in 1891.

Other reports say there was the sound of a loud explosion as well. Pray for this church. pic.twitter.com/chEpOaTufF

— William Wolfe (@William_E_Wolfe) July 20, 2024

Massive four-alarm fire at the Dallas First Baptist church with reported explosions. The exact cause of the fire is unknown at this time and will be investigated. pic.twitter.com/kipK5jUbYF

— Nine (@ninewontmiss) July 20, 2024

Per WFAA:

DFR confirmed to WFAA that the “structure involved is the secondary chapel.” Chopper 8 captured the moment when the spire toppled over as crews battled the flames.

Officials say no one was injured in the fire.

Pastor Robert Jeffress, who was elected pastor of First Baptist Dallas in August of 2007, spoke downtown as firefighters continued to fight the fire, and said he had been baptized and ordained as a minister in that very church.

“I had just left the church a little bit after 6 p.m. when we got word that the church was on fire, our historic sanctuary,” Jeffress said, emotional.

The building has been around since 1890, Jeffress said, and was the home of the church before they moved into a new center about 12 years ago.

This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.

View the original article here.