Residents in Aurora, Ont., are mourning the loss a 135-year-old church after a massive fire ripped through the building Friday morning.
Emergency crews were called to Aurora United Church near Yonge Street and Mosley Street just before 10:30 a.m. Friday.
About 60 firefighters, including six local fire trucks and additional fire crews from Richmond Hill, worked to contain the blaze at the height of the fire.
Thick clouds of smoke could be seen billowing from the roof of the building hours after the blaze first broke out and a large portion of the church’s back wall also collapsed.
Police said a group of pre-schoolers and adults were inside the church before the blaze broke out and were immediately cleared from the building.
Officers cleared six to eight homes in the nearby area and evacuated buildings and businesses close to the church as a precaution.
Deputy Fire Chief Paul Leslie told reporters that the fire is believed to have started in the rear roof of the building.
Leslie said the flames were so intense that crews were forced to pull away from the building at one point.
“It’s just the nature of churches - they are very tall, you cannot access the roof from the inside and so it just made it very difficult for us to fight the fire,” Leslie said.
Officials have not yet determined the cause of the fire and do not have an estimate on damage.
Leslie noted that a construction crew was repairing a leak on the roof at the time of the blaze but would not confirm whether the construction project had anything to do with the fire.
When asked if the building could be salvaged, Leslie said the chances of saving the building are slim.
“I don’t want to speculate and say it’s a total loss, but when you consider the amount of damage to the building at this point, it’s really hard to see what could be salvaged,” he said.
“In all probability, the structure may have to come down,” Leslie added.
Church officials said the building was first constructed in the late 1870s and that the parish has been part of the community since 1818.
The church released a statement on their website Friday afternoon, thanking residents for their support.
“Thank you to everyone for the outpouring of support in the wake of the fire at our church this morning,” the statement read.
“Know that all of our staff are safe,” the statement added.
Church officials also invited members to a special meeting in order to gather together and “talk and support each other in this sad time.”
The meeting will take place at the nearby Trinity Anglican Church, which has offered to host Aurora United Church members in wake of the blaze.
An emergency council meeting has also been scheduled for Friday evening.
Meanwhile, local residents gathered near the church and watched in disbelief as the iconic landmark burned.
Jeff and Sharon Bells, parishioners of the church for the past 20 years, said they are devastated by the loss.
“I just feel sick,” Sharon told CTV Toronto. “We’re doing a lot of praying right now.”
Jeff revealed that their son would often play violin during church service.
“We’ve been going there for years, 20 years now. It’s pretty sad because it’s a historical building,” Jeff added.
“They just finished renovating the whole sanctuary in the last few years -- it’s awful,” he said.
Frank Klees, MPP for Newmarket - Aurora, was in his office across the street from the church when the fire broke out.
He said the building was an integral part of the community.
“This is a real tragedy. This is a landmark, not only for Aurora, but York Region and quite frankly the province,” Klees told CTV Toronto.
“To see this building go up in flames is really tearing at the heart of this community,” he added.
Officials said the Ontario Fire Marshal's Office has been notified.
