MISSION VALLEY, Calif. --
Fire broke out at a Mission Valley church Monday afternoon, forcing evacuations and causing more than $1 million in damage, officials said.
Images: Mission Valley Church Fire
The blaze started at 4:40 p.m. on the first floor of the First United Methodist Church, said Maurice Luque, spokesman for the San Diego Fire Department. The church is located on Texas Street and Camino Del Rio South.
When crews arrived on scene, they saw a lot of smoke and fire coming from the Sanctuary meeting room, near the church's front entrance.
The blaze was contained within 12 minutes, Luque said.
At the height of the blaze, surrounding buildings, including a day-care facility with children inside, were evacuated as a precaution, according to Luque.
The blaze caused an estimated $1.5 million in damage. Investigators said the fire was accidental and started in the kitchen when one or more burners on a stovetop were accidentally left on, Luque said.
The flames gutted a meeting room and the adjacent office, and caused smoke damage throughout the building, officials said.
No one was injured.
