Investigators say lightning is the suspected cause in Monday's fire that destroyed a Jamesville church.
No one was hurt in the fire at the Jamesville Christian Church on Saint Andrews Street. The heat from the intense blaze also damaged the siding on a resource center for another church across the street.
Jamesville Fire Chief Randy Gardner says they suspect lightning Sunday hit a pine tree beside the church which started a fire in the church chimes. That fire apparently smoldered until Monday around 12:30 p.m. when smoke and flames were first noticed.
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Lightning may have sparked a fire that destroyed a Martin County church Monday afternoon and damaged a nearby resource center for another church.
The first alarm went out shortly before 12:30 p.m. to the Jamesville Christian Church on Saint Andrews Street.
Flames engulfed the steeple and ripped through the roof of the brick church. Flames were shooting more than 40 feet in the air.
To view pictures of the fire, click the PHOTOS tab at the top of the story.
Fire departments from two counties were called in to battle the fire. Heat from the fire was so intense that it melted siding across East Brown Street on a resource center for the nearby Baptist church.
Pastor Doug Stokes believes lightning may have caused the fire. He says two trees in front of the church were struck yesterday afternoon, knocking out power and phone service. They checked the building and found no problems, but Stokes says the fire may have gone unnoticed and smoldered until today.
The church was dedicated in the early 1950's.
