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• Apr 30, 2008 8:44 am US/Eastern
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  6-Alarm Fire Engulfs Philadelphia Church

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6-Alarm Fire Engulfs Philadelphia Church

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) ― A raging six-alarm fire destroyed a large church in the Philadelphia's Strawberry Mansion section Wednesday morning. Flames also damaged five homes and dozens of residents were evacuated, CBS station KYW-TV in Philadelphia reports.

Authorities said the fire broke out at about 7:45 a.m. at the Prince of Peace Baptist Church in the 3200 block of W. Berks Streets. Flames quickly consumed the entire four-story building and went to five-alarms by 8:30 a.m. At about 8:45 a.m. firefighters began going door-to-door evacuating residents in homes immediately east of the church.

The fire was placed under control by 9:45 a.m. at which point, the only part of the building left standing, was the façade and the church sign.

Parishioners on scene say they will rebuild and are just thankful there were no injuries.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The church, according to their Web site, is a Missionary Baptist Church that partners with Missionary Conventions and Associations across the country, "We are a conservative, evangelism oriented, Bible-based congregation with a strong African consciousness."

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