Downtown Charleston church fire contained quickly
- A fire broke out at a downtown Charleston church but firefighters contained it quickly with no reported injuries. - Damage was limited to a portion of the building's exterior and interior smoke, officials say; investigation ongoing. - Church leaders thanked first responders and community for support as investigators determine cause (patch.com).
Firefighters brought a church fire under control in downtown Charleston on April 18, and officials reported no injuries. (counton2.com) The Charleston County Consolidated Emergency Communication Center received reports of a possible commercial structure fire just after 7 p.m. Saturday at a single-story church in the 1300 block of Rutledge Avenue. Emergency crews arrived within three minutes of dispatch, according to the Charleston Fire Department. (counton2.com) Charleston, North Charleston and Mount Pleasant fire units responded with Charleston County Emergency Medical Services and the Charleston Police Department after smoke was seen venting from the building. Firefighters searched the church, found it unoccupied and got the blaze under control within 25 minutes of arrival, officials said. (abcnews4.com) Investigators said the fire started in the kitchen area of the church on Rutledge Avenue. The cause remained under investigation as of April 19, and officials said the damage was limited enough that no injuries were reported. (counton2.com) The church was identified by local television stations as People of Color Evangelistic Church, a congregation at 1328 Rutledge Ave. The fire drew attention because the building sits in a dense downtown corridor where smoke from a structure fire can quickly threaten nearby properties. (abcnews4.com) (showmelocal.sgvtribune.com) Charleston fire officials have not released a cause, and the department’s Fire Marshal’s Office is handling the investigation. The Charleston Fire Department says it protects the city from its headquarters at 80 Broad Street and through city fire operations. (counton2.com) (charleston-sc.gov) For now, the clearest outcome is that crews reached Rutledge Avenue fast, cleared the building and kept the April 18 fire from becoming a mass-casualty emergency. Investigators are still working to determine what ignited the church kitchen. (counton2.com)
