Firefighters from Berks County joined a massive response to a five-alarm fire that engulfed a historic vacant church in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, on Friday (November 21). The fire occurred at the corner of Hanover and Chestnut Streets, in a building formerly known as Transfiguration Lutheran Church, which was completed in 1861 and later occupied by Invictus Ministries Inc.
The initial call came in at 6:22 a.m., and firefighters arrived just three minutes later to find heavy fire conditions inside the church. According to Pottstown Fire Chief Frank Hand, the fire quickly intensified, leading to a five-alarm call within 20 minutes. More than 250 firefighters from approximately 25 companies, including those from Chester, Berks, and Montgomery counties, were on the scene. Their primary goal was to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to nearby homes, as the area is densely packed with narrow streets and closely spaced houses.
The fire caused a wall of the church to collapse, damaging a neighboring house. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported, but about 35 residents were displaced due to the fire. The American Red Cross opened a shelter to assist those affected. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and authorities are exploring the possibility of trespassers being involved, as several individuals experiencing homelessness were charged with trespassing at the church the previous week.
Chief Hand mentioned that the structure's size and design, with its large open spaces and wooden construction, made it challenging to fight the fire from the inside. Fire officials are closely monitoring the stability of the church's tower and steeple, which have been designated as a "collapse zone."