Sharp Street United Methodist Church burns, roof collapses
Saturday, August 29th, 2009Firefighters responded to a 2-alarm fire early Friday at the Sharp Street United Methodist Church in Baltimore County. The fire caused the roof to collapse in the sanctuary. The church suffered property damage, including damage to the 10-foot high stained glass windows. Smoke damage was obviously apparent to parishioners that visited the site to observe the damages.
The fire, which started at 3:30 am, does not have an official cause as of yet. However, officials think lightening might have started the fire. If the cause of the fire is due to a lightning strike, this will be the third time this has happened to a historical church in the last two years.
It is unsure where Sunday’s service will be held, but the Reverend Valerie Barnes is determined the service will go on, even if it has to be held outside in the parking lot. The Baltimore Sun reports the fellowship hall, where church services were once held in the past, also suffered damage from the fire.
Small businesses, including churches, should have fire damage recovery plans. This plan should cover prevention, proper fire insurance coverage, and a disaster recovery plan.
