Church Fire Extinguished in Harvard Heights
Firefighters extinguished a large fire at a church in the Harvard Heights area of Los Angeles on Friday afternoon. The blaze was reported around 12:51 p.m. in a two-story building located in the 2000 block of South Oxford Avenue.
Swift Response Prevents Further Damage
Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) crews swiftly responded to the scene, deploying sixty firefighters to combat the flames. In less than an hour, the dedicated team successfully extinguished the fire within 49 minutes. Notably, “Crews had to locate and access fire within walls of one portion of the large church building and chase it through to ensure there were no pockets of fire remaining,” according to an LAFD statement.
The statement went on to add, “The primary and secondary searches are clear with no one located inside.” Thankfully, no injuries were reported during the incident.
Cause Under Investigation, Task Force Notified
While the precise cause of the fire remains under investigation, the LAFD was quick to adhere to protocol and notified the Los Angeles House of Worship Arson Task Force. This specialized unit, comprising personnel from the LAFD, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives , and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, will thoroughly examine the scene to determine the origin and nature of the blaze.
Given the recent arson at St. Mary’s Church, what measures are you considering to enhance security and ensure the safety of your congregation and property in the future?
**Host:** Joining us now is Reverend David Miller, whose church in Harvard Heights experienced a devastating fire earlier today. Reverend Miller, thank you for taking the time to speak with us.
**Reverend Miller:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** This fire comes on the heels of another church fire, this one in Franklin, that was determined to be arson. Do you think there’s a connection between these events, and how does this make you feel about the safety of houses of worship?
