Massive fire rips through abandoned Mid-City church

wwltv.com

Posted on June 6, 2012 at 5:32 AM

Updated today at 7:10 AM

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NEW ORLEANS Firefighters fought a massive two-alarm fire that broke out in an abandoned church in Mid-City on Wednesday morning.

At 3:27 a.m., the first alarm was sounded and a crew made their way to the two-story building near the intersection of Banks Street and S. Salcedo Street. Firefighters arrived at 3:30 a.m. and rang the second alarm at 3:32 a.m. when they saw that the second floor was fully involved in flame.

At one point, thick smoke shrouded the block, as cranes high above the old Jehovah's Witness church shot water streams upon the structure.

There was recently construction being done. The second floor of the church had about 10 one-story apartments recently added. No one was living in there, said New Orleans Fire Department Capt. Edwin Holmes.

An occupied single family home on the right side of the church received damage to the side and the rear, according to the NOFD.

By 4:17 a.m., 43 firefighters were able to get the fire under control, as smoke cleared and nearby residents viewed the scene from a safe distance.

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Massive fire rips through abandoned Mid-City church