A huge fire broke out at the historic Dallas First Baptist Church, which is led by Trump support Robert Jeffress.
First responders were called to the church at 6.05pm local time, on Friday night, and were met by a serious blaze. Forty fire units were dispatched to the blaze.
According to an update provided by Chief Robert Borse, the fire was“knocked down and contained” within about three hours of crews arriving on the scene.
“While there is no indication that the fire will escalate, DFR is expected to maintain an extended presence on the scene to extinguish all lingering areas of fire and to maintain a safe perimeter around the unstable building,” he added.
The cause of the fire is unknown at present, but it is reported to have begun in the secondary chapel.
Footage of the fire is circulating widely on social media, with claims that an explosion was heard.
Footage of First Baptist Church Dallas, founded 1868. It’s a SBC church, currently led by Dr. Robert Jeffress.
This is the historic sanctuary, the cornerstone was laid in 1891.
Other reports say there was the sound of a loud explosion as well. Pray for this church. pic.twitter.com/chEpOaTufF
— William Wolfe
(@William_E_Wolfe) July 20, 2024
The First Baptist Church is one of Dallas’s most important historical churches, dating back to 1890. The Church has around 16,000 members, and its leader Robert Jeffress is well known as an outspoken Trump supporter.
Jeffress provided a statement to local news.
“A little bit after 6 p.m. we got word that the church was on fire, our historic sanctuary.”
“This sanctuary has been around since 1890. It was the home for our church for a long time.” First Baptist Dallas moved to a new worship center about 12 years ago.
“This historic sanctuary was the site of many personal events, including my own. I was baptized there when I was six, I was ordained for the ministry when I was 21, it holds a lot of memories, but we thank God that nobody has been hurt. We had just concluded vacation bible school with over 2,000 kids. They were all gone, so God has protected us through all of this.”
“I am grateful that the church is not bricks and mortar or wood, it’s people, and the people of God will endure,” he added.
With regards to the cause of the fire, Jeffress said that “nothing has been ruled in or out at this point.”
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