A fire broke out at the First Pentecostal Church of Buford on Thanksgiving night, around 10 p.m. Smoke was first noticed coming from a vent hole at the top of the sanctuary. The church, located on East Moreno Street in downtown Buford, was heavily damaged by the flames. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.
The situation escalated quickly despite the firefighters' efforts to locate the source of the smoke. The fire spread rapidly, reaching the roof and causing heavy flames. Fire crews worked for several hours to extinguish the blaze, but the building was severely damaged by the time the fire was under control. This information was reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
The congregation had gathered for a Thanksgiving meal before the fire broke out. When the news spread, many rushed back. "I saw that the church was on fire, and I scrolled back and I said my God, that’s my church! So, I just jumped in the car and drove here," said church member Heidi Johnson. Everyone got out safely, and no injuries were reported. Two young church members tried to put out the fire with extinguishers before calling 911, but they couldn’t stop it. The cause of the fire is still being investigated, but there is no suspicion of foul play. Olivia Barnhart, another member, said, "This is like losing a part of myself because, for me, this was not just a building. It was somewhere safe to be," as stated by Atlanta News First.
