$5,000 In Damages Reported In Peninsula Church Fire

MENLO PARK, CA — Firefighters made quick work of a fire at a Menlo Park church this week, getting the flames under control within less than 30 minutes, the Menlo Park Fire Protection District reports. The blaze was reported at 8:06 a.m. Tuesday, crews were on scene within five minutes and the incident was considered "under control" at 8:23 a.m.

The Church of Christ Scientist, located in the 200 block of Ravenswood Avenue, was partly ablaze with the first engine arrived on scene, according to Fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman. It appeared that the fire had burned through about 30 feet of bamboo, a fence and garbage cans, and spread into the church itself.

A total of five engines, a ladder truck, a battalion chief and a training chief responded to the fire, Schapelhouman said.

In the end, the fire did not cause damage to the inside of the church, but there was severe charring to the outside and some cracked windows. Fire investigators estimate the blaze caused about $5,000 in damage to the exterior.

“We were fortunate that the fire was quickly reported and extinguished," Battalion Chief Tom Calvert said. "If those windows had broken it could have been a much worse situation."

Fire Marshal Jon Johnston said cigarettes and cigar butts were found in the brush nearby but the exact cause of the fire is still yet to be determined.

Nearby security officers also speculated that juveniles are often at a nearby bus stop and attend Menlo-Atherton High School located just across the street from the church.

PHOTOS CREDIT: Menlo Park Fire Protection District

Image 1: Firefighter Paramedic Giau Nguyen works to extinguish a bamboo fire next to a Church

Image 2: Captain Greg Womble and Firefighter Paramedic Giau Nguyen attack the fire

Image 3: Menlo Engine Five arrives on scene of a Church fire and deploys a bumper housed attack hose line to extinguish a fire next to a church

Image 4: Captain Greg Womble checks on potential fire extension, while Firefighter Paramedic Giau Nguyen extinguishes the fire and Engineer Travis Hooper connects a supply line from the Fire Engine up to a nearby Fire Hydrant

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— Bay City News Service contributed to this report