Tulsa Church Fire Under Investigation

July 4, 2004
A fire gutted a Spanish-language church in Tulsa, leaving only the smoldering brick outer walls.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- A fire gutted a Spanish-language church in Tulsa on Saturday night, leaving only the smoldering brick outer walls.

Tulsa Fire Department District Chief Eddie Bell said authorities are investigating what caused the fire at Iglesia Evangelica Cristiana Espiritual. Some witnesses said fireworks shot from a nearby apartment caused the blaze, while others said a manufacturing neon sign started the fire.

The blaze apparently started on or near the roof, and firefighters were notified about 7 p.m. They battled the fire for less than an hour.

No one was seriously injured in the fire, but at least one firefighter was hit by falling debris. He was treated at the scene.

Azucerna Rivas Salazar, a woman who lived in the church, ran outside when she saw smoke coming from the air-conditioning vent, she said through an interpreter. She said church representatives were out of town.

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