Local News - September 2003

Lightning sets church on fire

Salem Baptist severely damaged

By AL DOZIER, Staff Writer

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Salem Baptist Church members arriving for a pastoral ordination instead found their sanctuary on fire, smoke billowing from the roof and firefighters rushing across the church grounds.

A bolt of lightening struck the roof of the church at 1982 Salem Church Road between 1 and 1:30 p.m. Sunday, according to the pastor, Ken Gibson. An intense fire quickly spread through the soundroom of the church.

Gibson said he smelled smoke after the lightning hit and saw the blaze as he approached the soundroom. He said church members quickly called firefighters and attempted to extinguish the blaze.

“We went through three extinguishers,” he said. “We just couldn’t put it out.”

Firefighters from South Fork, Boger City, Lincolnton and North 321 fire departments responded to the call, Lincolnton Fire Capt. Harvey Gates said.

Firemen were on the scene quickly and stopped the fire from spreading to the rear of the building. A firewall also helped. But the large stained glass window was destroyed and the sanctuary severely damaged. Church members who viewed the damage later said the chandeliers had fallen into the pews and the church organ was a charred black.

Gates classified the damage to the sanctuary as “major.”

No one was injured in the blaze, which occurred after morning services and at least 30 minutes before the ordination service was scheduled.

Gibson said a small group of church members preparing refreshments for a hospitality table were the only people at the church when the lightning hit, and they working in the back of the building.

Some firefighters became overheated and required assistance from EMS units.

Some church members wiped away tears and comforted each other as they watched the firemen fight the blaze.

Ken Little, the long-time church member who was to be ordained, said he wasn’t concerned about the cancellation of ceremonies so much as the damage to the church.

Gibson said he hopes the church would continue to hold services in the fellowship hall.

The same church has been struck by lightening several times, according to church members, who said the steeple was struck and damaged  within the past few weeks.

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Staff Writer Alice Smith contributed to this article.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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