Historic church badly damaged during fire on Cleveland’s east side

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Smoke poured from a Cleveland church Thursday afternoon during a major fire in the city’s Goodrich-Kirtland Park neighborhood.

Firefighters were called at 5:23 p.m. to Spanish Pentecostal Church of God in the area of East 36th Street and Superior Avenue, for a Triple 2 alarm fire. 19 News has learned the church building itself dates back to the 1800′s, and it became the city of Cleveland’s first Hispanic church in 1954.

19 News spotted the fire on our roof camera and has reached out to firefighters for more information.

Ten companies and over forty firefighters were called in to battle the blaze.

There have been no injuries to firefighters or civilians.

According to Public Information Officer Lt. Mike Norman, there are concerns about the steeple of the church collapsing so firefighters are pouring water on it from a safe distance.

Now that the fire is out, East 36 Street has been reopened to traffic.

Church leaders tell 19 News they will decide on an alternate location for services by Friday.

The church does have insurance and plans to rebuild.

This is a developing story. Return to 19 News for updates.

Copyright 2024 WOIO. All rights reserved.