MORRISTOWN, Tenn. — A Morristown church caught fire during a severe thunderstorm on Sunday morning.
The fire was reported at Roe Junction Baptist Church on Sulphur Springs Road around 7 a.m. Several witnesses reported hearing a large lightning strike before they saw flames, but the cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
The church is celebrating its 100th year of serving the Morristown area.
Allen Webber says he attended the church 45 years ago as a child. Webber says he learned of the fire from a neighbor who called to tell him the church was hit by lightning. He added, "even though at a time where we were not supposed to be gathering, something has managed to get us out here."
Brad Richardson, a firefighter for West Hamblen County Fire Department, says over 15 fire apparatuses responded to the fire, including trucks from surrounding areas such as White Pine. He says there are no fire hydrants near by, so firefighters shuttled water from hydrants around the county to fight the fire.
Richardson says they were not able to fight the fire with an offensive tactic, but they worked defensively to keep the fire from spreading.
He says the church is significantly damaged. The roof of the church caved in while firefighters battled the blaze.
At this time, no cause of the fire has been officially released. However, people who live near the church say storms with lots of lightning were present when the fire began.