Fire guts part of Berkeley church

BERKELEY (BCN & KTVU) --  There was gratitude in Berkeley Friday night, after a church escaped destruction, and a firefighter escaped injury.

For several hours in the afternoon, flames ravaged the historic First Congregational Church at Channing Way and Dana Street.

The roof was ablaze, and smoke billowed for blocks, and by the time it was under control and safe to inspect, the senior minister expected the worst.

"It's definitely better than what I was imagining," Rev. Molly Baskette told KTVU, after walking through the sanctuary.

Plaster has fallen from the ceiling, desbris covers the floor and pews, and there is some water and electrical damage.

But firefighters covered the piano and organ to protect them, and voices will rise in worship again.

Firefighters ran 300 feet of hose through the ceiling in order to block the blaze before it could creep into the heart of the church. 

"The firefighters did an excellent job containing it," said Rev. Baskette, "and I'm so grateful to them, for their speedy action so damage wasn't worse than it had to be."

During the firefight, as crews worked inside to try to save second floor offices, everything changed in an instant.

A glass skylight in an auditorium collapsed, and a huge rush of smoke and heat meant everyone had to evacuate.

One firefighter's path was blocked and he called a "mayday" which put firefighters into rescue mode.  

"That was pretty terrifying because you never want to hear that," Assistant Fire Chief Dave Brannigan acknowledged.

"We were all coming out of the building, it was a pretty chaotic time, and when you hear mayday, all attention goes to that person."

The firefighter broke out a window and came down a ladder, from the second floor. 

While investigators haven't speculated on a cause, neighbors say they smelled tar and saw workers on top of the brick building, which is more than one hundred years old.

"The guys had a torch that was on a rope, and it was swinging, but it was lit," witness Dave Aquirre told KTVU from his home directly across the street.

Rev. Baskette confirmed roof work was in progress as the church was preparing the install solar panels on the slate tile. 

Aguirre described seeing a small fire start, and grow quickly.

"The two roofers up there scattered real quick, then the fire department came, put a ladder up," Aguirre described, "and started their chainsaws to vent the roof. Then it spread throughout." 

By evening, all the obvious hot spots were out and a drone from the Alameda County Sheriff's Department helped find the rest.

Using a thermal imaging camera, it is able to pinpoint fire that isn't visible otherwise, so crews can direct their streams to where they're still needed.

Attention turns next to the stability of the building.

With the roof gone, walls are buckling, one chimney has collapsed, and a few others might topple as well.

Gravity could finish what the fire started, but the congregation of 500 is made of even stronger stuff.

"We've already made plans to worship somewhere else on Sunday and we'll carry on," Minister of Art and Communication Phil Porter told KTVU.

"The building is only part of it. The community is the main part and we will come together."

Building inspectors are expected to examine the structure on Saturday, and only when it's considered safe, will surrounding streets
re-open.

Saturday afternoon is also the homecoming football game for U.C. Berkeley, so traffic will likely be more congested than normal, due to the street closures.   

Support those affected: https://www.gofundme.com/Berkeleychurchfire