Fire destroys Mill Run church
Firefighters responded late Monday night to a fire that destroyed the Mill Run United Methodist Church in Mill Run. 8 fire companies from two counties fought to put out the fire at the Fayette County church located on Route 381 in Springfield Township.
John F. Brothers/HeraldStandard.com
Heavy fire engulfs the rear portion of the Mill Run United Methodist Church in Springfield Township early Tuesday morning. Members of eight fire companies from two counties fought to put out the fire at the Fayette County church located on Route 381.
Firefighters send a heavy stream of water through the rear doorway of the Mill Run United Methodist Church as they work to extinguish a fire that destroyed the Springfield Township church late Monday night. 8 fire companies from two counties fought to put out the fire at the Fayette County church located on Route 381 in Springfield Township.
Firefighters attack the heaviest area of fire at the rear of the Mill Run United Methodist Church in Springfield Township late Monday night. 8 fire companies from two counties fought to put out the fire at the Fayette County church located on Route 381 in Springfield Township.
SPRINGFIELD TWP. — Flames may have destroyed a Mill Run landmark early Tuesday morning, but it did not dampen the spirit of the members of the United Methodist Church.
The Rev. William Blair, United Methodist Church district director, said that many community residents stopped by the fire scene throughout the day to offer moral support to church members as they viewed the charred remains of the recently renovated church.
“They are already looking forward,” said Blair of the congregation. “They are planning to meet (today) to decide what to do next.”
The church is located along Route 381, just several hundred feet from the Springfield Township Volunteer Hose Co. fire station.
Eight fire companies from Fayette and Westmoreland counties responded to the blaze that was reported at 11:45 p.m. as a working structure fire when reported to 911, according to a 911 dispatcher. The state police fire marshal was at the scene Tuesday to investigate the cause of the fire.
According to the Rev. Randy C. Newill, the church was constructed in 1886 and has been the site of countless weddings, baptisms and funeral services for many generations of the church membership.
“It has quite a heritage,” he said.
Newill said that the first priority will be to have the remains demolished and then begin the process to rebuild.
“The building may have burned, but the church can not be destroyed,” he said. “Out of this tragedy, we will find triumph.”
The congregation will meet at 7 p.m. at the church parsonage located at 120 Stewarton Road.
In addition to Springfield Township, other departments responding to the scene included Ohiopyle, Saltlick Township, Normalville, Farmington and Connellsville Township in Fayette County and Scottdale and Westmoreland 110 in Westmoreland County.