Shortly before 5:30am on Monday, June 30th, 2014, a resident of the Regal Estates manufactured housing community noticed smoke coming west of their location from the roof of Moorhead Baptist Church, 502 Hwy 75 North in Moorhead. The resident alerted two families living in housing units at the church who escaped without injury, who noted that fire was now coming from the roof.
Moorhead Fire Crews arrived to find fire burning through the roof on the east side of the building with heavy black smoke pushing thorough opening at several locations along the roof. Fire was discovered in the attic space along most of the east wing of the church. A series of ventilation holes in the roof and a combination of aerial master streams and hose lines were able to stop the fire before it entered the main residence on the northwest corner of the building.
The entire roof of the east wing was destroyed and while the brick and block walls and many of the interior walls remain intact, massive water damage and charred and water soaked ceilings and insulation dropped in most the wing as well, likely resulting in the total loss of the east wing and half of the north wing of the L-shaped building.
Four engines and a ladder truck from Moorhead responded with two engines from the Fargo Fire Department. The fire was brought under control in just under 2 ½ hours with total extinguishment of smoldering materials occurring about 10:15 am. Moorhead Police assisted with scene security. F-M Ambulance, The Salvation Army and Red Cross provided assistance as well.
No dollar loss estimate is immediately available. The fire was caused by a faulty bathroom ventilation fan. Business and home owners are reminded periodically clean the covers and ductwork of their ventilation fans.
