Quick work by firefighters helped to save a century-old church in Moncton from burning to the ground.
Flames and smoke were seen coming from Cherryfield Baptist Church just before midnight Thursday night.
Platoon Chief Brian McDonald of the Moncton Fire Department said numerous trucks responded to the call on McLaughlin Drive.
“Specifically, our stations with the tankers responded because where the church is, there are no fire hydrants, so water supply is a concern,” McDonald told our newsroom Friday morning.
The first firefighters on the scene found a fire in the basement of the church, said the platoon chief.
Hose lines were stretched into the church, and the fire was quickly contained in the basement, he said.
“There was fire damage in the basement, some water damage in the basement, but unfortunately, there was smoke damage throughout the church,” said McDonald.
Fortunately, he said, the building did not suffer any structural damage because of the fire.
The Dieppe Fire Department also responded to the scene with its tanker to help bring additional water.
“The church has been there for a very, very long time. It’s a very nice, well-kept older church,” said McDonald.
“It will require a cleanup and some remediation to get it back in operation.”
McDonald said no one was hurt, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
