Historic Memphis church burns, sparks other fires
Pastor Dale Morgan
Historic Memphis church burns, sparks other fires*
POSTED: 1533 GMT (2333 HKT), October 6, 2006
MEMPHIS, Tennessee (AP) -- Fire swept through a historical downtown
church early Friday, collapsing its steeple and flicking off embers that
ignited three other buildings. Arson was not suspected, a fire official
said.
The buildings were unoccupied, and no injuries were immediately reported.
The First United Methodist Church, built in 1893, was largely destroyed
by the flames, which were reported shortly before 3 a.m. Its roof caved
in, the steeple toppled and some of the walls crumbled onto the streets.
(Watch how firefighters attacked Memphis blazes -- 1:58)
Soon after the fire started at the church, 10 mph wind carried sparks to
three nearby buildings, including the Lincoln American Tower, once the
tallest building in Memphis at 22 floors.
The buildings were part of a $45 million renovation into condominiums.
Owner Will Chandler told WMC-TV that he was worried one couldn't be
salvaged, but he said it looked like the tower might be saved.
At least two blocks separated the two fire scenes, but open windows in
the buildings under renovation and wooden beams in the two oldest
buildings helped feed the flames, said Alvin Benson, a deputy director
chief for the fire department.
Crews also had to extinguish small fires in trash bins set by drifting
sparks.
"I have no reason to believe it's arson," Benson said. The cause
remained under investigation.
The Rev. Martha Wagley, pastor of the church, said members of her
congregation gathered on the sidewalks as the structure burned, crying,
recalling various worship services and telling stories of who was
"married and buried" there.
Wagley said her church is a "seven day a week" church with a food pantry
and other ministries to people downtown.
"The building is lost, but not the church," Wagley said.
By 8 a.m., firefighters were still hosing down the church and other
buildings, and emergency vehicles filled blocked off streets. Arriving
workers walked through streets and sidewalks coated in ash. State
circuit court, held in a building close to those that caught fire, was
canceled for the day, court officials said.