Southwest
Emotional Dr. Robert Jeffress grateful no injuries in First Baptist Dallas church fire: ‘God has protected us’
Dr. Robert Jeffress has expressed gratitude that no one was injured in a massive fire that ripped through the First Baptist Dallas church on Friday, partially destroying the historic building’s sanctuary, which has stood since 1890.
The fire reportedly broke out in the basement of the megachurch, located in Downtown Dallas at the corner of San Jacinto and North Ervay Street, at around 6 p.m.
Video shows heavy flames tearing through the landmark building, with thick black smoke billowing high into the Dallas skyline. Things seemed to be mostly under control until the flames rekindled around 7:35 p.m., when the roof of the sanctuary partially collapsed, Fox 4 Dallas reports.
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Dr. Robert Jeffress has expressed gratitude that no one was injured in a massive fire that ripped through the First Baptist Dallas church on Friday. Jeffress is pictured with scenes from the fire in the background. (Fox 4 Dallas/KDFW)
Jeffress said that around 2,000 children had been inside the building earlier, but they had left well before the four-alarm inferno broke out. First Baptist Dallas has around 16,000 members and part of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the world’s largest Baptist organization.
“This historic sanctuary was the site of many personal events, including my own, I was baptized there when I was 6, I was ordained in ministry when I was 21. It holds a lot of memories,” Jeffress told Fox 4.
“But we thank God that nobody has been hurt. We had just concluded vacation bible school with over 2,000 kids. They were all gone, so God has protected us through all this.”
“I’m grateful that the church is not bricks and mortar or wood; it’s people. And the people of God will endure, First Baptist Dallas will endure, and we thank so many of our friends around the country who are praying for us right now.”
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Jeffress posted on X at around 9:30 p.m. that the primary fire had been extinguished.
Dallas Fire-Rescue Assistant Chief Justin Ball told reporters that the fire likely began in the basement, where there’s a library and a museum.
Jeffress said deacons are concerned that church records inside the library could be lost.
O.S. Hawkins, former pastor of the church, called it a “tragically sad day” for the congregation on X.
First Baptist Dallas was started in 1868, but the red brick building, known as the historic sanctuary, was not built until 1890, according to the Texas Historic Commission.
Heavy smoke is seen around a section of the First Baptist Dallas church on Friday (Fox 4 Dallas/KDFW)
It is the only downtown Dallas Church still on its original site, and the church received a historical marker in 1968.
The church posted to Facebook late Friday and thanked first responders for their efforts in battling the blaze before declaring that the congregation will still gather this weekend.
“One way or another, we intend to meet for church this Sunday,” the post reads. “More details to follow. We hope to see you there.”
Water being sprayed on the flames (Fox 4 Dallas/KDFW)
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Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department shot a person in West Hollywood on Saturday, authorities confirmed.
According to LASD Public Information Officer Veronica Fantom, the shooting happened at about 5:45 p.m. An exact location was not immediately made available.
It was not clear whether the person shot was armed or if they also fired shots toward the deputies. The person was transported to a local hospital, where their condition is unknown as of 8:55 p.m.
All deputies were accounted for, Fantom said. It was unclear whether any other injuries were sustained.
Two people are in critical condition and three others were also hurt after a food truck exploded early Saturday morning, authorities say.
Preliminary information indicates that first responders were dispatched to the 6700 block of Greenleaf Avenue in Whittier at 9:15 a.m. on reports of a food truck that had exploded.
Few details about the explosion were released, but a Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesperson told KTLA that five people were injured, including two in critical condition.
Two other victims were in moderate condition and the fifth victim was said to have sustained minor injuries.
Footage from the scene shows Whittier Police Department squad cars and caution tape blocking off the area surrounding the food truck.
The investigation into what caused the explosion remains in its preliminary stages.
Sofia Pop Perez and KTLA photojournalist Phil Ige contributed to this report.
Smoke billowed from the historic First Baptist Dallas Church in downtown Dallas, Texas, Friday evening as firefighters battled a four-alarm fire.
Fire crews arrived just after 6 p.m. to what was originally a two-alarm fire at San Jacinto and North Ervay Street, according to FOX 4.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Dallas Fire-Rescue for more information.
The fire caused the church’s sanctuary to partially collapse, according to the station.
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Smoke billowed from the historic First Baptist Dallas Church in downtown Dallas, Texas, Friday evening as firefighters battled a four-alarm fire. (FOX 4)
The church was built in 1868, and its sanctuary was added in 1890.
First Baptist Pastor Robert Jeffress asked for prayers for the church.
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“We have experienced a fire in the Historic Sanctuary,” he wrote on X. “To our knowledge, no one is hurt or injured, and we thank God for His protection. He is sovereign even in the most difficult times.”
Quoting Romans 8:28, he added, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
Jeffress said the church would “keep you updated as we prepare to come together to worship.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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Emotional Dr. Robert Jeffress grateful no injuries in First Baptist Dallas church fire: ‘God has protected us’
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