Sunday fire damages Texarkana church sanctuary

  |  Source: Baptist Press

A fire March 8 destroyed the television control room and three offices at First Baptist Church of Texarkana and damaged portions of the 2,350-seat sanctuary. (Photo from Jeff Schreve via BP)

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TEXARKANA (BP)—A fire hours after Sunday services on March 8 damaged the sanctuary at First Baptist Church in Texarkana and destroyed the television control room and several offices.

Pastor Jeff Schreve praised God that no lives were lost, and expressed trust in him after the tragedy.

“This is a difficult time for us,” he said. “But we are trusting the Lord. We’re looking to him. We know that he’s the God who takes bad things and turns them to good.”

Around 3 p.m. Sunday, a custodial employee and two others were in the church when they heard noises as if a door were slammed. The three smelled smoke and safely exited the church, Schreve told Baptist Press.

The Texarkana Fire Department and several volunteer units extinguished the fire in about 90 minutes, Schreve said. Firefighters believe the fire started in the TV control room.

The TV control room and three offices were destroyed, and a portion of the 2,350-seat worship center was damaged.

Firefighters cut through an exterior wall to fight the blaze, Schreve said, and three firefighters were treated at an area hospital for smoke inhalation and released.

The church just remodeled its sanctuary and TV control room a couple of years ago, the pastor said.

The church will require “extensive cleanup,” and the worship center may not be usable for months, Schreve said.


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“The smoke was really, really thick and heavy and dangerous. So we’re still trying to clean up the air now (Monday midday), but it’s been tough in different spots,” he said.

Many people have come to the church’s aid.

“I just appreciate people’s care and concern. The community has just been tremendous, really coming together and wanting to help,” he said. Schools and hotels have offered free space.

 


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