Firefighters Battle 4-Alarm Church Fire In Santa Ana

SANTA ANA, CA — Firefighters needed about two hours Thursday morning to extinguish a fire that erupted inside a vacant two-story 109-year-old church in Santa Ana. Investigators are researching the cause of the blaze.

Crews responded to the 100 block of East Santa Ana Boulevard, near Main Street, shortly before 2:45 a.m. and found fire going through the roof of an abandoned church and immediately upgraded the call to a third alarm structure fire, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.

The vacant church building, originally built in 1911, formerly housed the United Presbyterian Church. It was later home to Templo Calvario and the Orange County Pacific Symphony. It is categorized as a landmark because it is listed on both the national and California registers.

Just before 3:30 a.m., the fire was declared a four-alarm emergency and firefighters took up defensive positions, battling the blaze from the exterior, the OCFA said. Video from the scene showed flames engulfing the building and shooting high into the night sky.

At least 100 firefighters battled the flames and a knockdown was called at 4:38 a.m., the OCFA said.

No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire was under investigation.