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Authorities Investigate Fire That Destroyed North Miami Church
Pastor says witnesses saw kids with fireworks shortly before blaze broke out
Authorities are investigating a fire that destroyed a North Miami church Wednesday evening. Miami-Dade Fire Officials say the fire broke out sometime before 6 p.m. at Eglise Evangelique Des Pelerins at Northwest 12th Avenue and 119th Street. Pastor James Pasteurin said witnesses told him they had seen kids playing with fireworks near the church just before the blaze broke out.
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Authorities are investigating a fire that destroyed a North Miami church Wednesday evening.
Miami-Dade Fire Officials say the fire broke out sometime before 6 p.m. at Eglise Evangelique Des Pelerins at Northwest 12th Avenue and 119th Street.
Firefighters responded and found heavy smoke and flames shooting out of the building, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Division Chief P.L. Smith said.
It took about 60 firefighters over an hour to get the fire under control, but not before it caused the roof to partially collapse, Smith said.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze, but Pastor James Pasteurin said witnesses told him they had seen kids playing with fireworks near the church just before the blaze broke out.
"People that see told me that there's two kids that was playing with firecrackers and when they see the fire start they took off running," Pasteurin said.
Pasteurin said the church, which was set to celebrate it's 19th anniversary on July 25, had no insurance.
"It's very terrible," Pasteurin said. "The church is completely burned up."
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