SPENCER, Mass. — Investigators on Monday announced that a lightning strike is to blame for a raging fire that destroyed a historic church in Spencer on Friday.
The six-alarm fire engulfed First Congressional Church on Main Street in a matter of minutes, drawing a massive emergency response that included more than 80 firefighters from about 18 departments, according to the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
New video captures the moment the steeple of a centuries-old church in Spencer came tumbling down Friday.
— Boston 25 News (@boston25) June 2, 2023
📸: Jonathan Kelley
More details: https://t.co/w3DOBOBEbC pic.twitter.com/l6nuSQx6pA
The smoke could be seen from a number of surrounding towns as the flames ate away at the steeple, causing it to collapse and crash to the ground.
Rev. Bruce MacLeod, Interim Pastor at First Congregational Church of Spencer, told Boston 25 that the building is all wood and dates back to the 1800s, which is why it burned so fast.
No one was inside when the fire started.
In 1862, the church building was also destroyed by a fire but was rebuilt.
The church has a small congregation of around 30 people.
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