2-alarm fire destroys vacant church building in West Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A fire broke out early Monday morning at a vacant building in West Philadelphia, formerly home to the Greater White Rock Baptist Church.

Flames were first reported around 3:45 a.m. at the building at 56th and Market.

The fire quickly escalated to a second alarm as crews observed flames throughout the structure.

Several hours later, firefighters could still be seen spraying water where the stained glass used to be.

The outer walls of the old church are all that remain.

"I got scared because I'm thinking the same thing that my dad thought, that it was going to either blow up or come across. Thank God it didn't get none of the houses though," said Siani Steward of West Philadelphia.

Steward says she remembers the church while growing up.

Property records show it was built in 1957.

Steward says it closed some time during the pandemic.

"They used to have a lot of events for the kids and stuff. I remember going to a bunch of back-to-school events and stuff, so it's sad to see it go up in flames, especially the way that it did," she says.

Officials say they're looking into reports of people possibly sleeping in the building when the fire broke out.

Greater White Rock Baptist Church sold the building to a developer from New York in 2022, and it has sat empty ever since.

The former pastor sent a statement saying, "Today's fire reminds us that the true church is not brick and mortar but the people who carry forward its legacy."

No injuries have been reported, and the cause of the fire remains unknown.

Officials say 10 people were displaced.

The ATF has been called out to investigate, but says they haven't been able to get inside because it is still too dangerous.