- The Washington Times - Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Firefighters are battling a five-alarm fire ravaging a historic church in downtown Boston on Wednesday.

The fire began shortly after 9 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Church, an Albanian Orthodox facility. The blaze has grown so wild that some firefighters have been ordered to stand down and leave the building, the Boston Globe reported.

The ceiling has already collapsed and a connected church at the rear of the facility has begun to burn, Boston Fire Department spokesman Steve MacDonald said in an official tweet.

Firefighters from several stations have reported to the scene. And smoke is visible from miles away, the Globe reported.

It is unknown how the fire began. No injuries have been reported.

• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.

Copyright © 2024 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.

Please read our comment policy before commenting.

Click to Read More and View Comments

Click to Hide