On Monday night at around 6 p.m., a huge eight-alarm fire destroyed the Fountain of Life Center in Burlington, New Jersey. The event prompted the church’s senior pastor to express his sadness over the loss to his congregation.
According to the reports, the church was engulfed in flames and thick smoke, and more than a hundred rescue workers from five New Jersey counties worked to extinguish the fire.
8-alarm Fire Devours Church
The enormous fire that prompted eight alarms destroyed the Burlington church and endangered a local school.
According to CBS News, Russell Hodgins, senior pastor at the church, expressed his sadness when he discovered a massive fire had devoured his church.
"The roof collapsing is a pretty embedded image in my mind," Hodgins said in the report.
Almost the entire church's front was consumed by fire. Hodgins stated that the roof's dome and cross fell into the sanctuary. The senior pastor was deeply affected by the sight of the church.
Robert Tharp, the Florence Township Fire District administrator, said firefighters did an outstanding job of extinguishing the fire from the inside. Still, the building's size and the volume of fire necessitated a shift to a defensive strategy.
Ongoing Fire Investigation
New Jersey's county, state, and ATF officials have formed a task group to determine what started the devastating eight-alarm fire at the church.
According to officials, children were playing basketball behind the church when they spotted smoke. It didn't take long for the fire to consume the entire structure.
As reported by Action News, Sunday services will go as planned but will be moved to a recreation part of the property that was not damaged by the fire. Church leaders have promised to update followers on their social media pages with more details about upcoming services and events.
Next door, a K-12 school also spared damage, but students will have the rest of the week off.
About Fountain of Life Center
Everyone is welcome at Fountain of Life Center, where they can learn about Jesus and fellowship with other believers. They want to make a place where people can meet Jesus, find their strengths, and use them for the kingdom.
According to the website, the mission at the Fountain of Life Center is to share the good news of Jesus Christ and help others develop into completely devoted followers of Christ. The church's goal is to love God with all they have and to share that love with the world.
They realize the Holy Spirit is the key to completing the Great Commission, so they go out to acquire His empowering presence.
Russ Hodgins, Senior Pastor at FLCNJ
The Fountain of Life in Burlington, New Jersey, is led by Pastor Russ Hodgins. He has served as a pastor in Medina, New York City, and White Plains.
Per the website, he focuses on establishing new congregations and reviving older ones in his ministry.
He has been the catalyst for revivals in churches, and his sermons are famous for their "practical and challenging."
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