ST PAUL, Minnesota — A century-old church steeple in St. Paul’s Frogtown caught fire Thursday afternoon after a suspected lightning strike.
According to the St. Paul Fire Department, crews were dispatched to a church on the 500 block of North Farrington Street shortly before 3:30 p.m. after receiving a report of a fire.
The department posted video showing flames burning through the top of the steeple as crews arrived.
The fire was extinguished, and no injuries were reported, but St. Paul Fire said the steeple appeared “structurally unstable,” so they set up a “safety zone” in the area.
The Department of Safety Inspection (DSI) closed the sidewalks on Sherburne Avenue between Virginia Street and North Farrington Street, as well as Farrington Street between Charles and Sherburne Avenues.
The church steeple caught fire. Just before 5:30 p.m. today, the fire department was dispatched to the 500 block of Farrington St. for a report of a church on fire. While on their way to the scene, firefighters noticed tall flames coming from the steeple.
The fire was extinguished, and the interior was searched to ensure that all occupants had evacuated safely. No fire spread into the church. The steeple appears structurally unstable, so a safe zone has been established. There were no injuries reported.
The official cause of the fire is still being investigated, but a preliminary investigation suggests a lightning strike as a possible cause. The Department of Safety and Inspection (DSI) was called to the scene to assess the structure.
Because of the steeple’s unstable condition, they are closing the street and blocking the sidewalks as a precaution. Closures will remain in effect until the structure’s condition is assessed further.
There does not appear to be significant fire damage inside; however, the effects of interior water damage must be evaluated. Please avoid the following areas: Sherburne between Virginia and Farrington St., Farrington St. between Sherburne and Charles.
While it is too early to determine the official cause of the fire, officials believe the steeple was struck by lightning.
Trinity Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church was established in 1885, according to Historic St. Paul.