132-year-old Christian church burns down in Grand Rapids, Michigan, investigation underway

( Post Millennial )

A historic Grand Rapids, Michigan church building that was constructed in 1894 has been destroyed by flames after the building burned on Wednesday evening. 

The fire broke out at around 11 pm on Wednesday at the former Seventh-Day Adventist church building in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the local firefighters' union said on social media.  

"Rescue Company 2 arrived on the scene of a large church with heavy smoke and fire showing from the basement windows," the union's Facebook post said. "Crews attempted an interior attack using several hoselines in the basement and on the main level of the church, but the fire was already ahead of them in the walls and void spaces. Companies from all over the city responded throughout the night to this fire and additional off-duty members were called in to staff extra machines for relief. This is still an active scene as of this morning."

Although the fire was near the building, the next-door Christian Reformed Church's main campus building was not at risk of burning, the church said in a statement on Facebook.

"Unfortunately the former Seventh-Day Adventist building is currently burning down. The firefighters say there currently no risk to the 107 La Grave (the main building of LaGrave CRC). Pray for the firefighters currently working hard to put out the fire," the statement said. 

During the response to the fire, there were three fire fighters that were injured as well. All three have been released and are now back on "full duty." Captain Ryan Sparks with the Grand Rapids Fire Department said that two firefighters were injured when bricks collapsed on them. 

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, according to WWMT. 

"The flames were so intense that you could see them and you could smell the smoke and tar burning," Grand Rapids resident Leonard Brown said. "A lot of the people that live in this community was out here and they seem kind of sad...that the church was on fire. It's a historical church."