Dallas firefighters are investigating the cause of a 3-alarm fire that destroyed a vacant church and an adjacent building near Love Field Airport Tuesday afternoon.
Jason Evans, with Dallas Fire-Rescue, said firefighters were called to a fire at a church at 7715 Denton Drive South at about 1 p.m.
When firefighters arrived Evans said they spotted a heavy amount of smoke coming from one side of the building. Firefighters went inside the building to begin attacking the fire, but DFR said the fire quickly escalated and flames began shooting through the roof. As the fire continued to spread they had to retreat and attack the fire from the outside.
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Within about 90 minutes, firefighters had the fire under control.
"There were two buildings that made up the church, in all. The fire is believed to have originated in the building at the address on the front of the location and then spread to the building in the back," Evans said. "At this point, it's completely destroyed both buildings. Both buildings have suffered roof collapses … it may be the case when it's all said and done that neither of these buildings are safe for reentry."
Evans said there was no indication anyone was inside either of the vacant buildings and that no injuries had been reported.
According to signage outside, Iglesia Adventista most recently occupied the building.
Belinda Javier told NBC 5 was home and heard the fire trucks arrive. She said smoke quickly started spreading between the buildings and that the church went up in flames very quickly.
Javier said the church had been abandoned for some time and that it was boarded up because people had been going in and out of the building taking things.
Children at Obadiah Knight Elementary School, which is next door to the church, were seen being moved to another location.
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