An early morning 2-alarm fire tore through Christ Church Apostolic early Friday morning, injuring two firefighters and leaving a close-knit congregation devastated by the loss of their beloved place of worship.
OUR FIRST REPORT: Two Houston Firefighters injured while battling a 2-alarm fire in southeast Houston
Flames break out before dawn
The fire began around 6 a.m. at the church located in Southeast Houston.
Thick black smoke could be seen billowing from the building— the roof had just been replaced following storm damage last year.
No one was inside the building at the time, but the fire prompted a massive response from the Houston Fire Department.
“They reported heavy smoke coming from the structure,” said HFD Deputy Chief Douglas Harrison, who confirmed that the fire was quickly deemed too dangerous to fight from the inside.
100+ firefighters battle the blaze
Fire crews arrived by 6:50 a.m. and fought the fire defensively, working from outside the structure. It took more than 100 firefighters to extinguish the flames and control lingering hotspots.
While battling the blaze, two firefighters were injured when equipment malfunctioned during setup.
“They were connecting the hose to the fire hydrant and the truck was pulling the hose away,” said Shannon Wilson, a witness who works across the street. “It kind of caught them behind the legs and knocked them down.”
Deputy Chief Harrison confirmed one firefighter suffered a broken ankle and the other a fractured femur. Both were transported to a local hospital. No additional injuries have been reported.
Cause under investigation
While the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, investigators are treating the case with increased scrutiny due to the building’s religious nature.
“Anytime it’s a church, we pretty much know we’re going to have arson investigators involved,” said Harrison. “Since it was a church, the ATF has also stepped in.”
Church members told reporters that renovations had recently begun, though it’s unclear if construction work played any role in the fire.
A place of memories, now in ashes
For parishioners, the church was more than a building — it was home.
“My dad helped build it back in the ’90s,” said Rebecca, a longtime member. “We had our first services in a tent. There are so many memories.”
Rebecca said her mother still attends the church regularly, and her first thought after hearing the news was to run toward the flames to make sure everyone was okay.
“I got married in that church” she added tearfully. “I don’t want to watch home burn.”
Despite the emotional morning, churchgoers remained hopeful.
“No matter what has happened today,” said Mary Davis, another member, “He’s going to see us through.”