Current:Home > MarketsLos Angeles church destroyed in fire ahead of Christmas celebrations-InfoLens
Los Angeles church destroyed in fire ahead of Christmas celebrations
View Date:2024-12-23 16:59:16
A church in Los Angeles County was destroyed in a large fire early Sunday, just hours before community members planned to gather for Christmas celebrations.
Firefighters arrived at Victory Outreach church in Pomona, California, at 2:47 a.m., the Los Angeles County Fire Department said on X, formerly known as Twitter. Responding fire department units arrived at the scene and saw a massive fire with smoke billowing from the church.
"As some of you might have heard, this morning our church building caught on fire and it was redeemed a total loss," the church, which was built in 1981, said in social media posts. "Please join us in prayer for our pastors and our church."
A fire department spokesperson told television station KABC firefighters launched an aggressive interior attack of the fire when they arrived. After about 20 minutes, the fire expanded and the roof the church began to collapse, KABC reported.
No injuries were reported, according to the fire department. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The church said its planned Sunday celebrations, including a morning service and a Christmas play, were postponed. The church still plans to hold its toy giveaway and give away hundreds of toys to local children at 5 p.m. Sunday with the help of local firefighters.
The Rev. Robert Garcia told television station KTLA 500 people registered for the church’s planned celebration.
“It’s a tough morning for us, because today we were getting ready to have our outreach for the whole community,” he said.
A GoFundMe page was set up to raise funds to rebuild the church.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department and Victory Outreach church did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's requests for comment.
Contributing: The Associated Press
veryGood! (41716)
Related
- Patrick Mahomes Breaks Silence on Frustrating Robbery Amid Ongoing Investigation
- Surge in respiratory illnesses among children in China swamping hospitals
- Court clears France’s justice minister of conflict of interest
- More than a decade after launching, #GivingTuesday has become a year-round movement
- Volkswagen, Mazda, Honda, BMW, Porsche among 304k vehicles recalled: Check car recalls here
- Cardiologist runs half-marathon with runners whose lives he saved a year ago
- In the US, Black survivors are nearly invisible in the Catholic clergy sexual abuse crisis
- US agency to end use of ‘cyanide bomb’ to kill coyotes and other predators, citing safety concerns
- Brian Austin Green’s Fiancée Sharna Burgess Celebrates Megan Fox’s Pregnancy News
- Antonio Gates, Julius Peppers among semifinalists for 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame class
Ranking
- UConn, Kansas State among five women's college basketball games to watch this weekend
- Southern California mother charged with drowning 9-year-old daughter in bathtub
- Pakistan acquits ex-Premier Nawaz Sharif in a graft case. He’s now closer to running in elections
- The Libertarian Developer Looming Over West Maui’s Water Conflict
- High-scoring night in NBA: Giannis Antetokounmpo explodes for 59, Victor Wembanyama for 50
- Great Lakes tribes teach 'water is life.’ But they’re forced to fight for its protection
- The Mississippi River is an iconic part of America. Why doesn't it get more love?
- 'Remarkable': Gumby the kitten with deformed legs is looking for forever home
Recommendation
-
Judge hears case over Montana rule blocking trans residents from changing sex on birth certificate
-
Sean 'Diddy' Combs temporarily steps aside as chairman of Revolt TV network
-
Alabama judge who was suspended twice and convicted of violating judicial ethics resigns
-
Shannen Doherty Shares Cancer Has Spread to Her Bones
-
Brianna LaPaglia Reacts to Rumors Dave Portnoy Paid Her $10 Million for a Zach Bryan Tell-All
-
Myanmar and China conduct naval drills together as fighting surges in border area
-
UK’s Sunak ramps up criticism of Greek leader in Parthenon Marbles spat
-
Writer John Nichols, author of ‘The Milagro Beanfield War’ with a social justice streak, dies at 83