Priest Burned In 4-Alarm Fire At Townsend Church Building

TOWNSEND, MA — A priest suffered burns early Monday morning after a fire broke out in the rectory of St. John the Evangelist Church in Townsend.

Firefighters began responding to the 20 Highland Street rectory building around 2 a.m. Monday. The fire eventually triggered four alarms, calling firefighters from Fitchburg and other nearby communities, according to reports.

The priest was burned when he tried to put the fire out himself, according to NBC 10 Boston. The priest was in good condition, the station reported.

The state fire marshal was called to the scene to help investigate what caused the fire. The rectory building was almost completely destroyed, according to reports.