Fire damages historic Hankinson church

HANKINSON, N.D. — Investigators are working to determine the cause of a fire at St. Philip’s Catholic Church in Hankinson, which broke out late Wednesday afternoon, Dec .16.

Fire crews from multiple agencies responded to the 114-year-old church at about 4:30 p.m. Smoke could be seen billowing from the bell tower as firefighters worked for over two and a half hours to contain the fire.

Hankinson Fire Chief Josh Lenzen said the call came in after someone noticed smoke coming from the building.

“I believe it was reported as someone driving by, seeing smoke coming from the vents in the attic area,” Lenzen said.

The church, which is undergoing a $2 million renovation, suffered smoke and structural damage. The fire appeared to originate in the attic near a stained-glass window, according to Lenzen. Crews used a ladder truck from the Wahpeton Fire Department to access the church’s roof.

“The attic area had vents that were not close-able, and some of the access areas to the top of the attic area, it’s a very steep roof, high roof, and only one access point to get into it,” Lenzen said.

Firefighters faced windy conditions, but Lenzen said wind did not play a significant role in battling the blaze.

The fire comes as the church community prepares for Christmas services. Lenzen noted that while plans are still uncertain, the congregation will have options for worship.

Crews from Hankinson, Lidgerwood, Fairmount, and Wahpeton assisted in extinguishing the fire. The North Dakota Fire Marshal’s Office is leading the investigation. More details are expected to be released Thursday, Dec. 17.

No injuries were reported.

The church was originally built in 1908, with construction finished in 1910.

Hankinson is about 64 miles south of Fargo.

Isak Dinesen joined WDAY-TV as a reporter in September 2024. He previously worked as a multimedia journalist at WAOW-TV in Wausau, Wisconsin for three years. He graduated from NDSU in 2020, majoring in Journalism and minoring in Sports Communication at MSUM.