A massive four-alarm fire severely damaged a historic church on Rochester’s southwest side Saturday night.
It happened at the Jefferson Avenue Seventh-day Adventist Church.
City fire officials said they got a report just before 6 p.m. about a fire in the back of a church, and found heavy smoke when they got to 309 Jefferson Avenue.
Because of the large amount of fire and deteriorating conditions inside the building, firefighters evacuated from the building and fought it from the outside.
Ladder trucks with water streams high in the air were stationed on all four corners of the building to work on extinguishing the flames, which eventually burned through the roof.
The city fire department had a total of 15 fire and rescue companies plus many other support units called to the scene.
Firefighters from nearby towns helped cover the city with their own fire equipment, with the mutual aid system that area municipalities use to help each other out when they are dealing with major fires.
There was only one injury reported, a firefighter who suffered a hand injury and was taken to the hospital for evaluation.
There is no word yet on what caused the devastating fire.
On Sunday afternoon, there was a vigil on Jefferson Avenue at the site of the church fire.
Local faith leaders, public officials and others gathered to help church members pray for the church’s rebuilding.
Pastor Hanson Drysdale said the pandemic has taught his congregation that church is not just four walls.
“If this happened two years ago we wouldn't have known what to do. But God…I said but God,” he said.
Drysdale said they’re still waiting on the results of the investigation to find out the cause of the fire. He said he is faithful they will rebuild and he said the church appreciates the community’s support.
“This has not crushed out spirit. We are disappointed but we are certain that God has something better in store for us,” said Drysdale.
The 152-year-old church has served many people in the Jefferson Avenue neighborhood, like Kevin Holman who has been a member since he was a kid.
“57-58 years…I went to school here, and I have been an active member and I’m one of the church officers. Basically, my whole life I've been here,” said Holman.
