A fire tore through Mt. Zion Christian Church in northeastern Johnson County, Missouri, early Wednesday, reducing the 1896 building to a total loss. A passerby called 911 around 4:19 a.m. after spotting the rural church fully engulfed in flames, and by the time elder Mark Strickland reached the scene roughly ten minutes later, he said nearly three-fourths of the structure was already burning.
Strickland, who has been a member of the congregation for 72 years, described arriving to find much of the church already lost. As reported by the Kansas City Star, the fire left behind little more than debris and the chimney at 951 NE NN Highway. No injuries were reported in the blaze, according to a separate Kansas City Star report that confirmed the building was declared a complete loss.
Crews Hauled Water to a Rural Scene
Because the church sits in a rural stretch of the county, fire crews had to haul their own water supply to the scene rather than relying on nearby hydrants, according to KSHB. Four Johnson County Fire Protection District stations responded alongside mutual aid from the West Central Fire Protection District, the station notes. Joe Jennings, public information officer for the Johnson County Fire Protection District, said the fire likely had been burning for some time before the passerby noticed it and called it in.
Mt. Zion shared news of the fire on social media early Wednesday morning, per the Star's reporting. Congregation members reportedly visited the site throughout the day to survey what remained.
Cause Remains Unclear, With Lightning Not Ruled Out
The Missouri Department of Public Safety's Division of Fire Safety was asked to help determine the fire's cause and origin, and it has listed the cause as undetermined and under investigation. Mike O'Connell, a spokesperson for the department, said investigators cannot rule out lightning as a possible cause, though fire investigators have made no determination at this point.
A Congregation Dating to 1840 Looks Ahead
The congregation has served generations of Johnson County residents since 1840, with the destroyed building itself dating to 1896 and an addition made in 2008, according to KOMU. Despite the loss, Strickland was unequivocal about what comes next. “We’re going to rebuild,” he said, according to Fox4KC.
Strickland told the station it may take six months to a year, but the congregation intends to see it through, and he noted that about 60 people worship at the church every Sunday. People and churches in the area have already offered space for upcoming Sunday services, though where those services will be held had not yet been determined. In the meantime, members planned a prayer meeting in the church parking lot Wednesday at 6 p.m., and Strickland said the congregation will hold Sunday services regardless of the setback.
