US EditionDevastating 3-Alarm Fire Battled At Old Pottstown Church
The fire displaced about 35 residents and required over 250 firefighters from 25 companies to contain damage to nearby homes in the historic Pottstown neighborhood.
- On Friday, a historic vacant church at Chestnut and North Hanover streets was gutted in an early-morning fire, collapsing a wall that damaged the neighboring Dugan family house.
- Officials say the cause remains unknown and investigators will check power, gas and occupancy, while Invictus Ministries confirmed it sold the church property in 2024.
- Pottstown Fire Chief Frank Hand said the initial call came in at 6:22 a.m.; firefighters arrived three minutes later, pulled out about six minutes after entry, then fought fire from above using four ladder trucks and hose crews, displacing about 35 residents.
- In the next 20 minutes the call went to five alarms, mobilizing more than 250 firefighters and about 25 fire companies from Chester, Berks and Montgomery counties, while Pottstown Police and detectives taped off nearly a one-block area and disrupted Pottstown School District bus routes.
- Officials and residents both stressed building-compromise and safety concerns as investigations begin, noting the landlord repeatedly boarded the property and Pottstown Fire Chief Frank Hand warned the structure is compromised.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Five-alarm fire destroys vacant church in Pottstown
POTTSTOWN — An early-morning fire gutted a historic vacant church at the corner of Chestnut and North Hanover streets on Friday. Completed in 1861 and formerly known as Transfiguration Lutheran Church, it was later occupied by Invictus Ministries Inc. There were no injuries, but a collapsing wall struck the house next door, causing structural damage. Pottstown Fire Chief Frank Hand said the initial call came in at 6:22 a.m. Firefighters arrived …
Five-alarm fire destroys vacant church in Pottstown
POTTSTOWN — An early-morning fire gutted a historic vacant church at the corner of Chestnut and North Hanover streets on Friday. Completed in 1861 and formerly known as Transfiguration Lutheran Church, it was later occupied by Invictus Ministries Inc. There were no injuries, but a collapsing wall struck the house next door, causing structural damage. Pottstown Fire Chief Frank Hand said the initial call came in at 6:22 a.m. Firefighters arrived …
Five-alarm fire destroys vacant church in Pottstown
POTTSTOWN — An early-morning fire gutted a historic vacant church at the corner of Chestnut and North Hanover streets on Friday. Completed in 1861 and formerly known as Transfiguration Lutheran Church, it was later occupied by Invictus Ministries Inc. There were no injuries, but a collapsing wall struck the house next door, causing structural damage. Pottstown Fire Chief Frank Hand said the initial call came in at 6:22 a.m. Firefighters arrived …
Five-alarm fire destroys vacant historic church in Pottstown; response draws more than 250 firefighters
POTTSTOWN — An early-morning fire gutted a historic vacant church at the corner of Chestnut and North Hanover streets on Friday. Completed in 1861 and formerly known as Transfiguration Lutheran Church, it was later occupied by Invictus Ministries Inc. There were no injuries, but a collapsing wall struck the house next door, causing structural damage. Pottstown Fire Chief Frank Hand said the initial call came in at 6:22 a.m. Firefighters arrived …
Five-alarm fire destroys vacant church in Pottstown
POTTSTOWN — An early-morning fire gutted a historic vacant church at the corner of Chestnut and North Hanover streets on Friday. Completed in 1861 and formerly known as Transfiguration Lutheran Church, it was later occupied by Invictus Ministries Inc. There were no injuries, but a collapsing wall struck the house next door, causing structural damage. Pottstown Fire Chief Frank Hand said the initial call came in at 6:22 a.m. Firefighters arrived …
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