HOUSTON – Massive fire destroyed Christ Church Apostolic on Fuqua Street in southeast Houston early Saturday morning, Houston Fire Department officials said.
Deputy Chief Douglas Harrison with HFD said crews were dispatched around 6:45 a.m. and arrived within five minutes to find heavy smoke pouring from the church.
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Due to the intensity of the fire by the time crews arrived, commanders decided to take a defensive approach.
“We probably have over 100 [firefighters] here right now,” Harrison said. “With the amount of smoke and fire and the limited personnel at the start, he just opted to go defensive.”
Two firefighters were injured while trying to establish a water supply. One suffered a broken ankle, and the other sustained a fractured femur.
Both have since been released from a nearby hospital.
“Thankfully, they’re hurt, but it’s not something they’ll have to live with for the rest of their lives,” Harrison said.
Officials said no one was inside at the time. Water pressure issues posed challenges, but the outcome was not expected to change.
Parishioners gathered at the scene, many in tears. Mary Davis, a longtime member, said she received an early morning call from her pastor’s wife.
“No matter what has happened today, [God is] going to see us through,” she said. “I want to ask that you stand with us, that you pray with us, that we unite.”
Another member, Rebecca, said the destruction was deeply personal.
“I got married in that church. I married my dad in that church,” she said. “You can change homes, but you don’t want to watch home burn.”
Fire officials remained on site for several hours as investigators work through the debris and crews monitor hot spots.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Because the impacted building was a church, Houston police, HFD arson investigators, and the ATF are involved.