Augusta, GA

2 buildings damaged in church fire along Essie McIntyre Boulevard

Published

2 years ago

April 24, 2024

2 buildings damaged in church fire along Essie McIntyre Boulevard

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta Fire Department crews responded to a blaze Tuesday afternoon at a church at Essie McIntyre Boulevard and Meadow Street.

The fire at Fellowship Baptist Church didn’t injure anyone but damaged two buildings.

It broke out around 4 p.m. in a light-colored concrete-block storage building.

The back part of a building burned, with smoke pouring out a window, blackening the area around the opening.

“Upon arrival, those crews witness smoke and flames coming through the front door on the right side,” said Augusta Fire Chief Antonio Burden.

The heat from the flames melted and warped the gray vinyl siding of a nearby building that was being renovated to serve as a fellowship hall.

Pastor of the Fellowship Baptist Church of Augusta, Morris Jones, said: “I’m thankful. I’m grateful that it was contained and it didn’t do more damage. I was at work and got that, that notification and saw that fire and said, ‘Wow.’ I initially called the fire department, and police department and just went into prayer because the last thing I wanted was for someone to get hurt.”

The goals of the church will remain the same moving past the flames.

“The future of this building is going to be a fellowship resource center. We’re going to use it for the children of this community and feed the community like we use it now. Hopefully, we make a difference. In this neighborhood,” said Jones.

This building at Essie McIntyre Boulevard and Meadow Street was damaged by a fire on April 23, 2024.(WRDW)

According to Richmond County dispatchers, the fire was first reported at 4:03 p.m. Tuesday.

Witnesses reported large flames in the area around 4:10 p.m.

About eight firetrucks responded.

Burden said the cause of the blaze is under investigation.

Jones wants his congregation and community to know they’ll rise from the ashes.

“God is still in control. We know things are gonna happen, but as long as we trust God, everything to work out,” said Jones. “Continue to trust God, pray and see what God does next because He’s gonna do some powerful things in this neighborhood. We just got to be ready to position so when he acts we can move on time.”

The main worship area was untouched by the flames, so church services there would go on as normal.

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Augusta, GA

From Augusta roots to Nighthawks leader: Nolan Belcher comes home

Published

6 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

From Augusta roots to Nighthawks leader: Nolan Belcher comes home

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)- Augusta University baseball is in a three-game series matchup against the University of North Georgia.

AU is currently down in the series 0-2 after a close loss Friday and a loss Saturday.

But we aren’t focusing on the Jags, we’re going to take a look at North Georgia’s head coach, Nolan Belcher.

He is an Augusta native who began his career at Greenbrier and Augusta Christian.

He won three state championships, which then led him to play for the South Carolina Gamecocks.

There he won back-to-back national championships and finished runner up in 2012.

His coaching career began after that where he eventually joined the Peach belt Confrence, coaching at USCA and GCSU.

Now in his first season as head coach for the Nighthawks, he is happy to come home and coach in front of his friends and family.

“I’m very fortunate that I got family that, one is still around and they can come watch me do what I love. And, they’ve shown me, nothing but support throughout my whole coaching career and even back on my playing dates are very thankful and appreciative for everything they’ve done for me.”

AU and UNG will have their final series match on Sunday.

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