Firefighters, including some from nearby towns, battled a three-alarm fire that destroyed an historic Church Saturday afternoon.
Crews found the 300-year-old First Congregational Church of Pomfret fully engulfed in flames. The church dates back to the 1700s.
The fire broke out at Church Road at around 1:30 p.m. It took several hours for firefighters to get the fire under control. They were confronted with heavy smoke conditions.
Pomfret Fire Chief Derek May said it appears the fire began on the first floor and they believe the building was unoccupied. There were no reported injuries.
A concern for firefighters was the steeple of the church collapsing. When it did fall into the church, first responders made sure everyone stayed back.
Reverend Thomas Crumb, pastor of the First Congregational Church of Pomfret, said he's extremely grateful to the firefighters and thankful that no one was injured.
"This is an historic building. It's irreplaceable as a building, but it is just a building. And that is the most important thing to remember right now as sad as we are about it. the church is the people," said Crumb.
A state fire marshal is investigating the cause of the blaze.
Reverend Crumb said Pomfret School has offered its chapel to the congregation and that they will be worshiping there Sunday morning at 10.30 a.m.
