PRINCETON, Ind. – Fire crews battled a destructive blaze at The Princeton Church on Monday afternoon, spending hours trying to contain the fire that severely damaged the historic building.
According to Sheriff Bruce Vanoven, the first call came in shortly before 2 p.m. reporting a fire at the church located on North West Street. Firefighters arrived to find the structure engulfed in flames, with the roof partially collapsing and stained glass windows blown out from the intense heat.
The cold temperatures, which hovered in the teens, created additional challenges for firefighters as water from the hoses quickly froze upon contact with the frigid air. At one point, the fire chief’s jacket was visibly covered in ice while providing updates to the media.
Officials confirmed that the church, which is about 130 years old, suffered significant damage. The old wooden roof was consumed by flames in less than an hour. Despite the fire being mostly under control, authorities stated it would take several more hours to fully extinguish the blaze.
Fire department officials have not yet determined the cause of the fire, but they have promised to release further details as the investigation progresses. In the meantime, the community watches in sorrow as the historic church suffers a devastating blow.
