CHESAPEAKE, Va. (AP) - Fire officials in Virginia say that lightning may have sparked a massive fire that destroyed an historic Black church in the city of Chesapeake.
The Virginian-Pilot reports that an early Friday morning fire destroyed much of the Gabriel Chapel AME Zion Church.
The church says on its website that it’s the oldest in what is known as the Long Ridge and Cuffeytown Community. It was established in 1866 by free Blacks following the Civil War.
Fire Capt. Christopher Mackiewicz said it took about two and a half hours to get the blaze under control. The area is supplied by well water. So firefighters had to create a shuttle line with their engines to get water to the site.
“It’s catastrophic,” Mackiewicz said. “The building is going to be condemned.”
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