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Posted: Wednesday, 15 July 2009 8:59AM
Fireworks start Manteno church fire
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MANTENO, Ill. (STNG) -- Fireworks are suspected of starting a Tuesday night fire at a church in far south Manteno, authorities said.
The fire started at the Manteno Church of God at 126 E. 1st St., according to Manteno police.
A police officer saw a tree on fire near the church and used his radio to call a dispatcher and report that fire at 8:53 p.m., Manteno Fire Chief Scott O’Brien said.
When crews arrived they saw the fire “pushing out” the east side of the building, according to the chief, who said fireworks ignited the tree and then the building.
“It appears neighbors playing with fireworks may have started it,” O’Brien said.
The fire spread but was contained to a gathering room inside of the one-story, 3,500-square-foot church. The building sustained smoke damage, but the sanctuary was spared, the chief said.
The fire was extinguished in 20 to 25 minutes, and no one was inside at the time. A firefighter who suffered a knee injury while battling the blaze was treated and released from Provena St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee, according to the chief, who said no one else was hurt.
Fire crews are being praised for making sure the fire didn’t grow to be much larger.
“The firemen did a nice job of stopping it. It could have spread,” O’Brien said.
A dollar damage has not been developed yet, but the church will have to have repairs before it can open again. No building code violations were found and the building was properly equipped with smoke and fire alarms, according to the chief.
Though foul play is not suspected, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms (ATF) was notified as they investigate church fires, the chief said.
Local fire teams are also involved in the investigations, he said.
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Copyright 2009 STNG Wire, The Chicago Sun-Times. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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