Detroit church has fire

[Joe_in_RP]

Members of a local church are sifting through the wreckage after a fire destroyed their place of worship early Tuesday.

Firefighters had to cut through a security gate to get to the blaze inside the Seventh-Day Adventist Church on Conant Street, near East Seven Mile Road, Local 4 reported.

The blaze went to two alarms before firefighters could get it under control.

SLIDESHOW: See Damage Inside Church

VIDEO: Church Members React To Fire

"It's very heartbreaking because we've had a lot of great times here, worshiping and concerts and so forth," said parishioner Pat Joseph-Lyle.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents, which are required to investigate any church fire, searched for clues in the furnace room of the church, where the fire started, the station reported.

"Our choir was supposed to rehearse last night so they were here. They secured the building, set the heat and locked up," said Rev. Ralph Shelton.

Shelton said he was thankful no one was injured in the fire.

Church members said they will worship at a neighboring church while they work to rebuild Seventh-Day.

"It's a new challenge. It's nothing I've seen before, but I'm going to meet it with full strength," said Shelton.

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/4126619/detail.html

[CGMedley]

You can also read a report of the Conant Gardens Church fire on the Adventist Review website at http://www.adventistreview.org/2005-1504/news.html#4