Devastating Eight-Alarm Fire Destroys Church in Florence Township, New Jersey, Despite Firefighters’ Best Efforts

A devastating eight-alarm fire destroyed a large church in Florence Township, New Jersey on Monday night, despite the efforts of more than 150 firefighters. The fire caused the roof of the church to collapse, and threatened a nearby K-12 school.

Russell Hodgins, a senior pastor at the Fountain of Life Center, told Philadelphia’s KYW-TV, “It’s a devastating loss.” He added, “The church is not brick and mortar, the church is really the body of believers. God will help us through this, and I believe the church will be stronger than ever.”

Firefighters had successfully controlled the blaze by Tuesday morning, although what remained of the church building continued to smolder as crews worked to clear the debris. Fire officials are still investigating the cause of the fire.

The church has been a part of the community for over 40 years, and the pastor and congregation are determined to rebuild. The church has set up a GoFundMe page to help with the rebuilding process. The pastor and congregation are grateful for the outpouring of support from the community and are hopeful for the future.