Extensive damage reported following Middletown church fire

UPDATE @ 2:57 p.m.

The congregation for the First Church of God on Tytus Avenue will attend services this Wednesday and next Sunday at the Poasttown First Church of God, 6376 Germantown Road.

Hopefully by next week a temporary facility can be in place for the next several months as the church undergoes repairs, said the Rev. Damon Curtis. The congregation attended services at the Germantown church this morning.

Another issue will be the 45 children that attend daycare at the church, Curtis said.

“We just can’t pick up and go to another building,” said Curtis, adding that there are state regulations and approvals they need to meet.

UPDATE @ 8:12 a.m.

A large fire at the First Church of God in Middletown is now out, according to Capt. Rob Curry with the Middletown Fire Department.

Curry said a fire investigation team is on scene to determine the cause of the fire.

Describing the damage as extensive, Curry said the building sustained water and smoke damage throughout.

Fire prevention walls stopped the fire from spreading to the rest of the church, according to Curry.

UPDATE @ 3:30 a.m.

Firefighters are working to extinguish a fire at the First Church of God in Middletown.

Our crew at the scene reports most of the fire has been contained but a ladder is up and crews are continuing to spray water on the structure.

A large hole in the roof of the structure can be seen, according to our crew, with heavy smoke billowing from the scene.

A witness living across from the church tells our crew she heard an explosion before walking out of her home to see massive flames reaching beyond the steeple of the church.

The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage remain unknown.

INITIAL REPORT

Fire crews are arriving on the scene of a fire at a church in Middletown Sunday morning.

Dispatchers said firefighters were sent to the First Church of God in the 3000 block of Tytus Avenue on a report of a structure fire.

Emergency assistance has been requested to the scene of the fire, according to initial reports.

We have a crew heading to the scene to learn more.

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