2 people rescued from church building fire in Philadelphia's Grays Ferry neighborhood

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Officials say two people were rescued by firefighters and taken to the hospital following a church building fire in Philadelphia's Grays Ferry section.

Flames broke out just after 7 a.m. on Wednesday inside an administrative building connected to the Abundant Life church on South 26th and Tasker streets.

Officials say that before they arrived, Thomas Lewis, the pastor of the church, saw the smoke and tried to rush inside to save a female coworker and her elderly father.

"I tried. I did my best. I couldn't get them. I couldn't get to the third floor to get Mr. Ricky out. Firemen brought him out," Lewis said.

He didn't hesitate once he saw the smoke.

"My coworkers, my loved ones, I had to be there for them," he added.

The elderly man was trapped on the second floor and rescued by firefighters. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

His daughter, a woman in her 50s, was also rescued by first responders. She is currently in stable condition.

"It was heartbreaking to see the daughter of one of the people up there saying, 'I've got to get my dad. I've got to get my dad,'" recalled Deborah Beatty, who lives across the street.

The building houses the nonprofit Women Empowered 4 Life.

Investigators say the fire began on the second floor and quickly spread to the third floor.

The flames were brought under control just before 8 a.m.

Pastor Lewis says their plan is to rebuild and continue to serve the community.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.