Historic church in rural Missouri, destroyed by fire
By JoBeth Davis
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SWEET SPRINGS, Missouri (KMBC) — A piece of history was destroyed in a massive fire early Wednesday morning.
Mt. Zion Christian Church near Sweet Springs, Missouri, is a total loss after a devastating blaze that is now under investigation.
Officials with the Johnson County Fire Protection District said the church, located at 951 Northeast State Highway NN in northeastern Johnson County, was engulfed in flames. A passerby called 911 around 4:19 a.m. to report heavy smoke and flames coming from the facility. Firefighters arrived on the scene to find the historic building fully engulfed.
The building is a complete loss.
Fire officials said the church has served the community since 1840. This church structure was built in 1896 with an addition completed in 2008.
“Anytime a fire destroys a building with this much history, the loss extends beyond the structure itself,” said Captain Joe Jennings, public information officer for the Johnson County Fire Protection District. “For generations, this church has been a place where people gathered, built relationships and marked important moments in their lives. We recognize what a difficult morning this is for the congregation and the surrounding community.”
Jennings said four separate Johnson County Fire Protection District stations responded to the scene along with additional help from the West Central Fire Protection District. Due to its rural location, crews had to transport water to the scene to support firefighting operations.
There is no word yet on what caused this fire. Jennings said this incident remains under investigation by the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office.
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