TULARE, CA — A large fire severely damaged the Family Baptist Church on Monday morning, destroying about half of the building.
Tulare firefighters responded to fire alarms and 911 calls at the church, 1781 E. Prosperity Ave., around 6:08 a.m. When the first crews arrived, flames had already broken through the roof. Shortly after, the roof of the main building collapsed, forcing crews to stay back and fight the fire from the outside for safety.
Mutual Aid and Coordination
Due to the building's size, the fire was upgraded to a "second alarm," bringing in more help and equipment. Eight fire crews responded to the scene, including teams from the Visalia Fire Department and the Tulare County Fire Department.
The Tulare Police Department, LifeStar ambulance service, and the Visalia Firefighters Association also provided support. While crews fought the blaze, additional units helped cover emergency calls in the rest of the city.
Containment and Salvage
Firefighters brought the flames under control by 8:00 a.m. Despite the quick progress, crews remained on the scene until 2:00 p.m. to check for hidden hotspots.
Fire officials say about half of the building was destroyed, but crews were able to save many of the church’s musical instruments.
No injuries to the public or firefighters were reported. According to the Tulare Fire Department, the cause of the fire is unknown and remains under investigation.
