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CV NEWS FEED // A fire broke out at St. Philip’s Catholic Church in Hankinson, North Dakota, Dec. 16, causing smoke and extensive damage to the 114-year-old building.
The church, currently undergoing a $2 million renovation, is a historic landmark in the community, The Jamestown Sun reported.
Fire crews from multiple agencies responded to the blaze around 4:30 p.m. after a passerby noticed smoke coming from the attic vents. Smoke was seen billowing from the bell tower as firefighters worked for over two and a half hours to contain the fire.
Hankinson Fire Chief Josh Lenzen said the fire appeared to have originated in the attic near a stained-glass window. The North Dakota Fire Marshal’s office is leading an investigation into the cause. No injuries were reported.
A man named Nathan Falk, along with another volunteer, entered the building shortly after the fire was reported and successfully removed the Blessed Sacrament and other sacred articles and vestments before they were damaged by the fire, Daily News reported.
According to a Dec. 17 report from KVRR, FOX’s Fargo, North Dakota, affiliate, the fire caused extensive damage to the historical church.
“Based on preliminary inspections, it’s likely the church can be saved, but a final determination won’t be made until after further structural inspections,” Diocese of Fargo spokesman Paul Braun told KVRR.
The fire occurred as the parish community prepared for Christmas services. While plans are still uncertain, Braun said that the Franciscan Sisters of Dillingen have offered their convent chapel for the parish’s Masses for the foreseeable future, including Christmas Masses, Daily News reported. Pastors from two Lutheran churches in Hankinson have also offered their buildings.
Pastor of St. Phillips Monsignor Brian Donohue said that the parish’s current capital campaign for renovating the historic church will now “run concurrently” with the project to repair the fire damage, according to Daily News.
“There will be months of renovation with a goal of resuming services in the fall,” Monsignor Donahue said. “We are thankful the fire was found so quickly and all the responding personnel returned home safely. Thank you to Fire Chief Josh Lenzen and all the people who helped.”
