Lehigh Acres church fire: Investigation underway, community unites

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A fire engulfed the Christ at the Crossroads Church in Lehigh Acres late Sunday afternoon.

Black smoke and flames consumed the building, but fortunately, no one was hurt, according to the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District.

Fire crews continue to assess the damage on Monday and investigate the cause of the fire.

Authorities said the fire ignited at the church on Homestead Road North at around 6 p.m.

Photos shared by the Lehigh Acres Fire Department reveal the extent of the damage inside the church.

While the sanctuary suffered minimal damage, another room was completely devastated, with the roof caved in. Despite this, the overall structure remains intact, which surprised fire crews.

Firefighters from Lehigh Acres, Fort Myers and South Trail worked tirelessly for nearly four hours to extinguish the blaze, targeting every hotspot and flame.

Sylvia Salazar, a neighbor, expressed her sorrow at the sight of the church, saying, “It’s just sad. It’s really, really sad. I mean, if there’s anything that they can do, I mean, hopefully, they will be able to rebuild to keep the services going for the people who really need the help and stuff this. Just hope and pray that, you know, the church can bounce back, bounce back for the community. We need this church. We need it.”

The church has been a vital part of the community, and one of the pastors mentioned receiving support to help rebuild.

The church, located on Homestead Road south of Lee Boulevard, is a significant spiritual landmark in the community.

Abel Avalos, who works with both the church and the nearby Christian Academy for Autism, expressed the emotional impact on church members.

“What makes it heartbreaking is that this church has been here forever, more than 63 years, so there were a lot of members that came out and have reached out because they have a very sentimental connection with the sanctuary,” Avalos said.

Katie Heck, the public information officer for Lehigh Acres Fire, explained the investigation process.

“It’s a pretty lengthy process. They have to overhaul the rooms where it looks like, you know, the fire originated. Take a look at a lot of things on the walls, the floor, you know, what’s around, talk to witnesses, make other phone calls,” Heck said.

The fire also affected the Christian Academy for Autism, which had to close temporarily. Inspectors are ensuring the safety of the buildings before the school can reopen.

“We have inspectors going through those buildings now too, just to ensure that everything is done, you know, steps are taken to clean those buildings, make sure that there’s no smoke issue or anything toxic that the kids would be exposed to,” Heck added.

Despite the damage, there is hope. The sanctuary was largely untouched by the fire, though it suffered water damage.

“Remarkably, the sanctuary was left pretty untouched by the fire. There’s a lot of water damage in that area now, but I think there’s a lot of things that they’ll be able to recover,” Heck stated.

Investigators continue to search for clues to determine the fire’s cause.

The Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District advises people to avoid the area while the investigation continues.

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