OAKLAND — Firefighters were putting out a three-alarm blaze at a church on Sunday that sent flames and smoke rising over a North Oakland neighborhood, authorities said.
Just before 11 p.m., Oakland Fire Department coordinators received word of the blaze near the First African Methodist Episcopal Church building at 37th Street and Telegraph Avenue.
When firefighters first arrived, they found heavy smoke rising from a fire and set off the second and third alarms. There were no immediate reports of injuries or a cause of the fire.
That reports a California Digital Library online archive listthe building is home to East Bay’s first and oldest black church, which was founded in 1858 as Shiloh African Methodist Episcopal Church before later becoming Fifteenth Street Church.
“In 1949, the Reverend H. Solomon Hill became pastor, and in 1954 he led the congregation to a new meetinghouse at 3701 Telegraph Avenue, where it was renamed the First African Methodist Episcopal Church,” the filing listing reads in part. “Since then, the church has been renovated and improved numerous times, most notably surviving the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.”
Check back later for updates.
Crews respond to a fire with 3 alarms at a church on 37th & Telegraph Ave. More details to follow.
— Oakland (CA) Fire Department (@OaklandFireCA) February 20, 2023
The 3 Alarm Fire is at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church. About 60 firefighters are now on the scene. Media Stage at West MacArthur and Telegraph Ave. pic.twitter.com/kDHLoND4lx
— Oakland (CA) Fire Department (@OaklandFireCA) February 20, 2023
60 minutes after the 3 Alarm incident on 37th and Telegraph. This is now a defensive firefight with three ladder pipes and crews on the ground spraying water on the roof and inside of the building. There are no injuries at this time and the cause of this fire is unknown at this time. Video: pic.twitter.com/M2nQa9jni1
— Oakland (CA) Fire Department (@OaklandFireCA) February 20, 2023
Check back later for updates.
Please contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.
