Homestead church destroyed by fire: ‘We will rebuild,’ pastor says

HOMESTEAD, Pa. — A gutted building is all that remains after flames destroyed the Prayers and Deliverance Church in Homestead Thursday night.

The fire started just before 6 p.m. on Amity Street.

You can customize your WPXI News App to receive alerts for Allegheny County news. CLICK HERE to find out how.

The church’s pastor stood with his wife as they watched the church burn to the ground. He knew something wasn’t right when he got to his ministry Thursday.

“The lights were out, which I didn’t understand. We went to the breaker box ... lights came back on,” said Pastor Marable.

He said that is when smoke started to pour from the ceiling.

“I started hearing popping noises,” the pastor said. “I went up into the ceiling to see what it was -- I saw flames.”

Firefighters had to cut through the roof with chainsaws to let heat escape. The building used to have a flat roof until an addition was put on, trapping all the flames and smoke in the peak of the new roof -- which created a challenge for firefighters.

The damage inside the church is devastating. The walls are gutted out, parts of the ceiling are gone and the floor is covered in soot.

ExpandAutoplay

Image 1 of 5

Aftermath of church fire Channel 11 got its first look inside a Homestead church that caught fire Thursday. (WPXI)

Marable told Channel 11 he will rebuild for the 25 families who have made this ministry their second home.

“Without church there is no life,” he said. “Keep praying for us. We’ll be back shortly.”

The Fire Marshal is investigating, but it’s unclear what started the fire.

Church leaders said services will start being held this weekend at the Homestead United Presbyterian Church at 11:30 a.m. on Ann Street. Services will then be held at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church on 10th Avenue until the church is rebuilt.

If you’d like to donate, there is a GoFundMe started for the church.

Students upset with Edinboro University's response to bed bugs in dorms Students upset with Edinboro University's response to bed bugs in dorms

© 2020 Cox Media Group