On a sweltering night Bristol area fire crews responded Monday night en masse to a reported church fire on Jefferson Avenue in Bristol Borough.
Originally dispatched as a fire alarm activation at the Zion Lutheran Church crews from the five fire companies; Croydon, Newportville, Third District, Edgely, and Levittown #2 rushed to the scene, on the residential street, discovering a smoke condition, which led to the call being upgraded to a building fire, Deputy Fire Chief AJ DeAngelis said.
“I filled out the box,” he said, “out of caution.”
We gained entry to the church through an open door, discovering a burned-out light bub in a first-floor closet which is what caused all the smoke, DeAngelis said.
Credit: Jeff Bohen Lower Bucks Source
We were able to confirm there was no fire extension, he said, turning the church back over to its operators who would need to address the issue with their electrician, said fire officials on scene.
Recent graduates of the county’s firefighter school were on the scene, DeAngelis proudly confirmed.
Bucks County Rescue Squad and Bristol Borough Police were also on scene proving support where needed.
A four block stretch of Jefferson Ave was closed down for about one hour, even though the call was placed within five minutes officials said.
Credit: Jeff Bohen, Lower Bucks Source
Four Bristol Borough Firefighters who completed level 1 and level 2 training recently. At least two of the four were on scene at last night’s incident response
Credit: Jeff Bohen Lower Bucks Source