For the third time in just 13 years, flames have ripped through a historic Los Angeles church. This time, the century-old structure may have reached its final chapter.
The former Crouch Memorial Church of God in Christ in Historic South-Central Los Angeles erupted into flames, bringing approximately 180 firefighters to the scene as a raging inferno threatened the surrounding neighborhood, according to the Los Angeles Times.
As KTLA reported, firefighters arrived shortly after 3:30 a.m. to find the two-story church engulfed in flames. Crews spent an hour and 36 minutes battling the blaze, attacking it from outside because the already-weakened building posed a serious collapse risk.
And incredibly, this church has been through the fire before.
A devastating blaze struck the property in October 2013, causing portions of the roof to collapse and trapping firefighters beneath debris. The Los Angeles Fire Department determined that a heater accidentally sparked the fire.
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Then, in May 2024, fire struck again.
Now, just two years later, flames have returned.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the church was constructed in 1905 and sits within the historically significant 27th Street Historic District. What once served as a house of worship had since become abandoned, with neighbors reportedly raising concerns about squatters and illegal dumping around the property.
Despite the ferocity of the latest blaze, firefighters kept the flames from consuming nearby homes. No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported.
But the church itself may not survive this latest blow. Authorities have not said the fire was set intentionally, and they have not determined the cause.
After standing for more than 120 years and surviving fire after fire, one of the neighborhood’s historic houses of worship may finally be coming down.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the newly released book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about Abby at abbytrivett.com.
