Massive fire destroys south suburban church; workers inside escape safely: Cook County sheriff

FORD HEIGHTS, Ill. (WLS) -- A south suburban church went up in flames Wednesday afternoon.

The Cook County Sheriff's Office said the fire broke out just before 2 p.m.

Chopper 7 was over the scene at 1602 Drexel Ave. in Ford Heights about 2:45 p.m.

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A huge amount of smoke was seen spewing from the structure. Large flames were also visible.

Firefighters were on the scene battling the blaze.

Two maintenance workers were treated for smoke inhalation and released, the sheriff's office said. No one else was inside.

The Ford Heights assistant chief said the flames became too intense; so firefighters had to fight the fire from the outside. Then, the roof collapsed.

"They seen heavy smoke coming from the back of the building. By the time they made entry, there was fire throughout the whole roof." Ford Heights Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Lawrence Ewan said. "With a water infrastructure that's pretty bad, it's a lot of challenges. So we were pulling waters from multiple sources in town."

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Fire departments from Ford Heights, Richton Park and Monee responded and put the fire out.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but at this time it does not appear suspicious, the sheriff's office said.

The pastor of True Light Temple of Praise said the church has been in the community for decades. He said once he found out about the fire he had to be picked up off the ground he was so overcome by emotion.

Pastor James Morgan said they spent more than $40,000 trying to renovate and revitalize the nearly 60-year-old church, which has been a beacon of hope for the community.

"Imma be honest: I've just been here. I've been looking at the fire, waiting to get the details myself. We were just here on Sunday having a great time. And I'm devastated myself; I'm trying to figure out what's going on," Morgan said. "We just celebrate as anniversary. So to see this happen is really devastating to me"

Pastor Morgan was overwhelmed by emotion when he first got the call.

"My sister here had to pick me up off the ground," Morgan said. "When I got off, I was at work, and they was calling me, telling me that the church is on fire, everybody calling me up."

Rhe cause of the fire is still under investigation.