FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. --
Members of a local church had their Sunday morning service interrupted when a fire broke out in the building.
There were about 70 people inside the Lighthouse Church of God, including a dozen children, when the fire started in the back of the building.
One of the older kids saw the smoke and flames coming from a supply closet, just as the Sunday morning service was beginning.
I was sitting in the third row because I like to watch the piano player as she plays. All of a sudden a young men came walking in from back, whispered something in her ear. She stopped playing and told the others to stop and told everyone to evacuate," said church member Bea Holgate.
Church goers, dressed in their Sunday bests, made and quick and orderly evacuation from the Sanctuary and all of the kids quickly scurried out the back door, but a handful of worshippers stayed behind to do some damage control.
A couple of the brethren grabbed fire extinguishers and tried to put out of the fire but it was just too much for us," said church treasurer Charles Holgate.
In the middle of it all, somebody called 911 and before too long Fort Lauderdale firefighters were on scene knocking down the flames. But a lot of damage was already done.
The supply closet where the flames broke out is charred and furniture and carpet was water logged and the acrid smell of smoke permeated the entire place.
Fortunately the expensive audio and video equipment in the main Sanctuary was spared the worst of the damage.
Worshippers may have to find another place to pray until the building is repaired, but this fire has given them plenty more to be thankful for.
All and all were okay because we know it could have been a lot worse. We know something very good is going to come of this," said Charles Holgate.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
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