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Savannah Fire responds to Monday afternoon structure fire, church roof collapses due to the fire

SAVANNAH (July 18) – Monday afternoon, at approximately 3:20 p.m., the Savannah Fire Department (SFD) responded to a reported structure fire at Central Missionary Baptist Church off Hitch Drive. Due to the nature of the fire, the church roof collapsed. Thanks to the prompt response, no individuals were injured in the fire.

Although weather conditions hindered response time, firefighters arrived on scene in six minutes. When the initial crew arrived, they encountered heavy smoke and flames coming from the steeple of the church. Other units also responded and assisted with the effort.

The fire was brought under control in approximately 30 minutes. Fire investigators determined the fire was caused due to a lightning strike. Personnel from SFD conducted a fire watch into the evening to ensure the area was safe.