BUFORD, Ga. — Firefighters are managing the aftermath of a large fire at the First Pentecostal Church of Buford.
The Gwinnett Fire & Emergency Services Department said crews first got to the church a little after 10 p.m. after multiple 911 calls had come in to dispatch.
Viewers sent Channel 2 Action News photos and videos of the church fully aflame.
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While crews worked to put out the fire at the three-story church, they found smoke coming from a vent of the building’s basement. Fire crews used a fire hose to “begin their attack” while searching for the source of the fire and smoke.
GFES said they found fire in the attic above the church’s sanctuary.
While working to put out the flames, fire crews noticed conditions change quickly and the heat and fire grew more intense.
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“Recognizing the dangerous conditions, fire crews withdrew from interior operations and exited the structure,” the department said. “Immediately following the retreat, commanding officers conducted a personnel accountability report (PAR) to confirm the safety and location of all members operating on the scene as portions of the church began to collapse.”
More fire crews and equipment were called in and firefighters were able to get the fire under control around 2:30 a.m.
The natural gas service was unable to be disconnected due to the structural collapse, but teams were able to disconnect the building’s electrical service.
No injuries were reported related to the fire, and the source of the fire is now under investigation.
However, fire investigators on the scene said that while they could not rule out an electrical source as the cause, they did not suspect criminal activity as the source for the fire.
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