Abandoned church fire in Danville deemed incendiary

DANVILLE, Ill. (WAND)- An abandoned church fire is under investigation after the Danville Fire Department deemed it incendiary.

Danville Fire was called to the 900 block of Fowler Avenue in Danville at 8:55 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.

Upon arrival firefighters reported seeing a large amount of smoke coming from throughout the entire structure and flames coming out of the south Side of the building.

According to the Department, the 15,000 square foot structure was an abandoned former church and school.

Firefighters operated on the building for several hours as the metal roof and heavy timber construction of the building made access to the fire difficult.

Crews said, certain construction features of the building and high humidity conditions plagued firefighters all night as they exhausted nearly the entire resources of the fire department battling the fire.

Firefighters report at one point in the fire, the decision to suspend firefighting operations was made so that an excavator could be brought to the scene to tear off the metal roofing structure that had been preventing firefighters from getting to the seat of the fire.

While operations were halted, Ameren was called to the scene to secure the Power and Gas lines to the building.

During this period of the operation, crews said the fire was occurring in the vast void spaces grew in size and due to the building’s condition prior to this fire and the hazard it would propose to the community if left to stand, the decision was made to raze the building.

Owens Excavating began tearing down the building as firefighters controlled the fire around their operation.

Over 35 Firefighters were brought in to control the fire. Firefighters remained on the scene for over 12 hours in total as the building was eventually brought to the ground by the fire crews and an excavator.

No injuries have been reported.

Danville Fire Investigators, who are being assisted by the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshals Office have determined the cause of the fire to be incendiary.

Anyone with information regarding this fire should contact the Danville Fire Department at (217) 431-2350.