Firefighters spent nearly two hours battling a blaze at Columbus United Baptist Church off Taylor Road after being called at 12:30 a.m. Thursday. The fire broke out hours after church members found signs of a possible break-in at the building on Wednesday. The congregation now faces the prospect of rebuilding a sanctuary that has stood since 1974.
Beverly Thompson, wife of Pastor Jimmy Thompson, told WSYX that the couple went to the church around noon Wednesday, October 28, to install a water softener system. They noticed water running down the front steps and a broken window. The couple believes someone entered the building sometime between Sunday night and Wednesday.
Inside, Pastor Jimmy Thompson found lights on throughout the church and pop cans on the floor. The couple called police after checking the building. The fire was reported at 12:30 a.m. Thursday.
Investigators Still Piecing Together What Happened
Church members said fire crew leaders believe the fire was intentionally set, though investigators have not confirmed a cause. Crews are still working to determine where the fire started and whether accelerants were used, according to the station's report. The Jefferson Township Fire Department and the Franklin County Sheriff's Office are both investigating, though no official statement detailing their findings has been released.
Beverly Thompson said she was devastated to learn the church was burning. Members gathered outside Thursday afternoon to pray and collect belongings from the property.
A Long Road Back For The Congregation
Beverly Thompson said the damage could keep the congregation out of the building for as long as a year. For now, members are looking for a place to worship on Sunday. They say they intend to stay together and rebuild at the site where the church has stood for more than five decades.
Thompson also pointed to a white flower blooming near the building as a sign of hope and asked the community to keep the congregation in its prayers and offer support as members plan their next steps.
Not The First Columbus-Area Church To Face This
Columbus United Baptist Church is not the only local congregation to confront a devastating fire this year. In August, a fire caused the roof of Cherry Creek Church of Christ in west Columbus to cave in, with Columbus fire officials attributing the blaze to a suspected lightning strike, according to WOSU. That fire damaged the congregation's Bible study rooms, meeting hall and kitchen, though the front sanctuary was spared.
Elsewhere, a Durham, North Carolina congregation offers a glimpse of what a long recovery can look like. Charity Christian Fellowship Church reopened nearly three years after a fire gutted its building in November 2023, when 21 fire engines responded and water used to fight the blaze flooded the first floor, per WRAL. The cause of that fire was never determined, and investigators ultimately ruled out foul play.
What National Fire Data Show
The U.S. Fire Administration estimates that an average of 1,300 fires at places of worship were reported to U.S. fire departments each year from 2020 to 2022, causing average annual property losses of $74.6 million, according to its national data. Those figures support the estimates cited above. Cooking was the leading cause, accounting for 33% of fires; intentional actions accounted for 15%. These nationwide figures do not establish the cause of the Columbus fire.
Fires at houses of worship are not rare nationally. An estimated average of 1,300 such fires were reported to U.S. fire departments each year between 2020 and 2022, causing an estimated $74.6 million in property loss annually, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. For now, Columbus United Baptist Church's members are focused on the days immediately ahead — finding a place to gather this weekend while investigators work to determine exactly what happened inside their church.
