Baltimore Church Damaged By Fire

Listen: Fireground Audio: Baltimore Church Damaged By Fire

BALTIMORE --

City fire officials are investigating a late-night blaze at Bethel AME Church.

The two-alarm fire occurred just after 11 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Lanvale Street and Druid Hill Avenue. Parts of Druid Hill Avenue remained closed Thursday afternoon.

Upon arrival, crews found the two-story brick church on fire, with smoke coming from the nearly 200-foot-high steeple.

The fire was contained to the steeple and bell tower of the church.

The church was vacant, and the fire was extinguished without injury to firefighters or civilians.

Fire department spokesman Chief Kevin Cartwright said the fire damaged the steeple and the bell tower and that the main entrance, vestibule and second floor stairwell ceiling and walls suffered water damage.

The fire was placed under control shortly after midnight, and the preliminary cause is believed to be a lightning strike.

A safety perimeter was established around the church due to the instability of the steeple.