Arson Investigation After Fire Destroys Historic LA Church

Victory baptist church
A Los Angeles fireman recovers musicals instruments following a fire at the Victory Baptist Church in Los Angeles, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. Authorities say an arson investigation is under way after a fire destroyed the historic church in South Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Share

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An arson investigation is under way after fire destroyed a historic church in South Los Angeles early Sunday, authorities said.

The blaze at Victory Baptist Church broke out shortly before 2:30 a.m. and quickly grew to major emergency status, said Nicholas Prange, a spokesperson with the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Two firefighters were hospitalized with mild to moderate injuries after battling the flames, Prange said. One became trapped by a collapsing ceiling before being rescued, he said.

The Los Angeles Times said Victory Baptist has played a major role in the spiritual and political history of South LA.

Founded in a local storefront on Easter Sunday in 1943, the church moved into its current building on McKinley Ave a year later. In the 1950s, its Sunday night services were broadcast on television nationally.

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at the church in 1964.

An arson team with the House of Worship Task Force was part of the investigation, officials said.

This article originally appeared here. 

Continue Reading...

AP Newshttps://apnews.com/
The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business.

Read more

Latest Articles