Officials say Englewood church fire sparked accidentally by roofers’ torch
A fire that tore through an Englewood neighborhood church was caused by workers on its roof using a propane torch, Chicago Fire Department officials said Saturday.
The fire at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church happened Friday afternoon and caused extensive damage to the structure, 6248 S. Stewart Ave. No one was injured or inside the church at the time.
The fire department’s Office of Fire Investigation determined the blaze was accidental, caused by roofers using a propane torch, according to a tweet from the Chicago Fire Department.
The roof caved in moments after firefighters had evacuated because of dangerous conditions, said Chicago Fire spokesman Larry Langford.
Meanwhile, church officials decided to have Easter worship services at Englewood’s Calahan Funeral Home, 7030 S. Halsted St., beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday with the church’s pastor, Gerald Dew, according to the church’s Facebook page. The services will also be streamed online.
Also Saturday, Chicago fire Deputy District Chief Curtis Hudson said firefighters returned to the church shortly before noon to check on “just some steam” after firefighters had already returned to the scene a few times to put out any residual flames.
“I know last night we came back at 8 and then 2 in the morning and then again this morning at 7, and we’re here now,” Hudson said. “Rekindling is to be expected for such a big building.”
Hudson said when the roof collapsed, the debris that was then underneath the fallen roof was likely still on fire and wasn’t getting any direct water, which would explain any flareups. Hudson said there were no visible flames as of early Saturday afternoon.
Chicago fire first arrived on scene of the extra-alarm blaze about 2:30 p.m. Friday and had it under control as of 4:05 p.m., Langford said earlier.
Rodney Simpson, 32, who lives in East Pilsen, went out to the church Saturday morning to “feel the weight of what happened yesterday.” He said he saw a few other people standing around, looking at the building and saw more arrive as he was leaving.
Simpson said he grew up in the Englewood church from early childhood up until his early-tomid 20s. Though he hadn’t attended any service at the church in some 10 years, he was brought to tears as he walked up to what remained of what he called his “home growing up.”
“Walking up to the building and seeing it, even the emotional response to that you really can’t prepare for,” Simpson said. “It was like a piece of my history, my family’s history, the community’s history, the city’s history, it’s been hollowed out. It definitely hurt to see that.”
Simpson said he still has several connections to the church, including his mom and brother who attend. He found out about the fire from his best friend who he met and grew up with in the church then called his mom to check on her.
“I think we were and still are all in a state of shock,” Simpson said. “There’s a lot of things that are coming up for me. The space will be missed and honored for the community and the relationships it nurtured, the spirit that it held. It’ll be missed.”