Hopewell: Fire causes extensive damage to St. James Catholic Church, under investigation
Heavy smoke and flames were visible when firefighters arrived on the scene within four minutes of being dispatched. Crews immediately initiated fire suppression tactics, working efficiently to bring the fire under control.
First responders conducted a thorough search of the premises and did not discover any occupants inside. No civilian injuries were reported. Mutual Aid assistance was requested and Chesterfield County Fire & EMS and Colonial Heights Fire & EMS responded to the scene to assist in firefighting efforts as well as fire investigations.
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'Our firefighters acted quickly and professionally to contain the fire and protect lives and property,' Hopewell Fire Chief Ben Ruppert said in a statement. 'We are grateful that no one was hurt and appreciate the teamwork displayed by our department and our neighboring localities.'
The Hopewell Fire Marshal's Office is currently investigating the cause of the fire. Further details will be released as they become available. Anyone with tips or information is encouraged to call the Hopewell Fire Marshal's Office at 804-541-2290.
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Kristi K. Higgins aka The Social Butterfly, an award-winning columnist, is the trending topics and food Q&A reporter at The Progress-Index voted the 2022 Tri-Cities Best of the Best Social Media Personality. Have a news tip on local trends or businesses? Contact Kristi (she, her) at khiggins@progress-index.com, follow @KHiggins_PI on X and @socialbutterflykristi on Instagram.
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This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Hopewell fire: Church suffers extensive damage, under investigation
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