ROCKFORD, Ill. — A historic, about 150-year-old church building in Rockford, Illinois was devastated by a fire Wednesday evening and deemed a total loss.
According to a report from WREX, the abandoned building located at 607 Walnut Street, caught fire at about 6:24 p.m. on September 2, and the blaze quickly spread due to wooden structure inside.
30 firefighters, 5 Rockford fire engines, and 3 ladders responded to the scene and were forced to fight the blaze defensively due to its intensity, said the report. The fire crews had to wear special gear to protect themselves from asbestos. Rockford Fire Chief Derek Bergsten said that no injuries had been reported as of 8 p.m. on September 2.
Bergsten also stated that the cause of the fire is unknown, noting that the issue could not have been electrical in nature since there was no power going into the church. Investigators are searching for answers from neighbors and members of the public.
Inscriptions inside the church indicate that the building was formerly the Rockford Masonic Cathedral. Another features the number 1869, which, if it is an accurate indicator of the building's age, would make it 151 years old. At another point in the church's history, it was home to the Metro Christian Center. The city is reportedly looking into information about how long the church was abandoned.