POMONA, Calif. (KABC)– Overnight, a fire destroyed a well-known Pomona neighborhood church, just hours before a planned Christmas party and toy giving.
Around 2:45 a.m. Sunday, the Victory Outreach church caught fire. The 12,000-square-foot building was already on fire when firemen got there, and thick smoke was flying into the air.
Firefighters had to back off because the building could fall. After all, the fire was so strong.
“When they got there, there was a lot of smoke and fire coming through the old church,” said Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Sheila Kelliher Berkoh.
“Right away, they launched a fierce attack from the inside.” After being inside for about 20 minutes, the roof began to fall in and the fire grew quickly. They had to switch to defensive mode and move defensively.
There is a GoFundMe page set up to help the church rebuild.
The senior pastor of Victory Outreach said, “It’s a tough day.” “One of the members said, ‘At the end of the day, pastor, the building is going to be burned down, but the church is still going to be standing because we’re the church.'”
More than 100 firemen worked to put out the fire, and by 7 a.m., they were still there spraying water on the burning buildings, according to abc7.