Firefighters from Spring Garden, McCord’s, and Piedmont Fire Departments were dispatched to a reported structure fire at Faith Baptist Church on U.S. Hwy 278 around 6:20 PM Saturday Night. According to Cherokee County EMA Director Shawn Rogers, firefighters arrived on-scene within minutes to discover the Fellowship Hall engulfed in flames. Firefighters quickly began battling the blaze and protecting the church’s sanctuary which was not involved.

Soon after suppression efforts were underway Spring Garden Fire Chief Butch Jacobs requested Ellisville Fire Department for additional assistance. According to Chief Jacobs it was a very difficult scene due to the storms that pushed through the area just before the fire was reported which produced heavy rainfall and high winds. Chief Jacobs says the ground was saturated and the Fellowship Hall was on a hillside making it difficult to position trucks exactly where they needed to be.  

Firefighters remained on-scene for approximately four hours. After examining the scene and talking to witnesses who were at the church when the fire started, Chief Jacobs says the fire appears to have started at the back of the Fellowship Hall and has been ruled accidental. Chief Jacobs says there were no reported injuries and the church members did an outstanding job evacuating the Fellowship Hall after the fire was discovered. The State Fire Marshals Office was notified and assisted in the investigation.  

Chief Jacobs wishes to thank the McCord’s, Piedmont, and Ellisville Fire Departments for a job well done.