A fire that ignited yesterday evening in a vacant South Memphis church prompted a response from the Memphis Fire Department and temporarily left almost 2,000 utility customers in the dark. The blaze at the intersection of East Trigg and Hemlock Street drew fire crews to the location around 8:30 p.m. The Memphis Fire Department stated that "crews are going defensive," and the public was advised to avoid the area, as reported by WREG. No injuries were reported at the time. The church, which had stood for an undetermined number of years, succumbed to the flames, prompting a strategic withdrawal to ensure safety and prevent the fire's spread.
The incident notably affected the Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) customers, with nearly 2,000 experiencing an outage; that information was signaled by officials, and coverage by Local Memphis indicates the power was restored to most by around 8:45 p.m.
The remains of the church and the aftermath of the blaze raise ongoing concerns and questions for both residents and authorities, with the cause of the fire still undetermined. As the investigation continues, the neighborhood watches on, holding onto the memories of a church that was more than just walls and a steeple, but a fixture of their shared history, as per FOX13 Memphis.
