An early morning blaze on May 1st ripped through St. William Catholic Church in Avondale, causing extensive destruction and leaving the local community to grapple with the loss of a key place of worship and social services. Flames were seen pouring from the church's attic as firefighters arrived at the scene near 107th Avenue and Buckeye Road just before 1 a.m., FOX 10 Phoenix reported. Despite their efforts to contain the inferno, the roof eventually caved in, resulting in what Avondale Fire Battalion Chief Steve Mayhew called "a devastating loss to this community."
In a race against time to prevent further damage, fire crews had to quickly and aggressively to fight the fire from spreading to adjacent structures. No injuries were linked to the incident, but the church is regarded as a "total loss," according to statements Battalion Chief Mayhew gave to 12News. The cause of the fire is currently unknown, sparking a significant probe, especially given the building's status as a church.
The place of worship not only served as a spiritual center but also housed a food pantry, which is now reduced to ashes. "I also run the pantry here at St. Williams – that's gone. So now we're going to have to get some food, somehow, to all these people. We're going to need a lot of prayers. We also are going to need a lot of help," parish member Gonzalo Ortiz lamented to FOX 10 Phoenix about the dire situation following the fire.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix released a conciliatory statement post-disaster, expressing relief that no injuries occurred, and assuring the community that everyone was safe. "We were made aware of a fire at one of our parishes very early this morning and are gathering the details, but it appears the church has been totally destroyed," the statement, obtained by 12News, read. The Diocese also revealed that officials are at work to develop a plan for future masses, amid the wreckage.
As the investigation into the cause of the fire unfolds, the community unites to rebuild what was lost. The story continues to evolve, with updates to be expected as more information becomes available.
