3-alarm fire at historic church damages several classrooms

HOUSTON – The cleanup process has begun for parishioners at the St. John Missionary Baptist Church after a fire tore through its education building Sunday morning.

Senior Pastor Terrance Grant-Malone considers himself blessed after a three-alarm fire nearly destroyed a portion of the historical church built in 1899.

"A lot of pride and history here and we are grateful it is still intact," Grant-Malone said. "It's one of the only churches Dr. King ever preached at in this city. It carries a lot of history."

Around 1:45 a.m. Sunday, an officer driving by the church saw smoke coming from the building.

"She called the Fire Department and because of that our building is saved," Grant-Malone said.

When firefighters arrived they found heavy smoke and flames coming from the back of the building

"Once inside they found the fire had extended into the second story," Jay Evans with the Houston Fire Department said. "Extra alarms were asked for and it went to a three-alarm fire."

Although the education building suffered sever damage, the chapel and main sanctuary are intact.

"We are still blessed when you consider the entire building and the building is still standing," Grant-Malone said.

Until the building is restored, church service will be held at the Crown Plaza Hotel on the South Loop and Kirby Drive.