Early Wednesday morning, Phoenix Fire crews battled a blaze at St Joseph Church in north Phoenix. Crews were dispatched the Church near 40th Street and Shea Boulevard after midnight.
According to Phoenix Fire, “crews arrived to find a well involved fire to the inside of the church. The fire had spread to the attic of the church and had begun to burn through the roof. Fire crews made the decision to switch to a defensive strategy due to the volume of fire.”
No injuries have been reported.
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The Diocese of Phoenix released the following statement:
This morning we awoke to the tragic news of the fire at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Phoenix. The Phoenix Fire Department is investigating the fire. The church building was destroyed and there were no injuries. We will have more to share as it becomes available.
We are heartbroken for the St. Joseph Catholic community and we are grateful for the bravery of the fire fighters and first responders.
There are tentative plans to celebrate Masses somewhere on the church property this weekend.
Today on this feast day of St. Joseph the Worker, we ask the community to join us in prayer.
ABC15 is reporting that Phoenix Police have learned that a Presbyterian church a block away from St. Joesph’s was broken into and “badly vandalized.”
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. Arson as a cause has not been eliminated.