FIRE and Rescue NSW are investigating the cause of an overnight blaze at St Barnabas' Church in Rocket Street, South Bathurst.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bathurst duty commander Inspector Brett Jackson told the Western Advocate that crews were called out to the fire around 1.40am on Sunday.
"When crews arrived at the scene, the church was already fully engulfed," he said.
"Unfortunately, due to risk of collapse, they were unable to enter the building."
Inspector Jackson said that three additional crews from Bathurst, Blayney and Kelso were called to the scene.
He said crews managed to contain the blaze to the church and prevent it from spreading to the church hall and bell tower.
"Once some of the roof section collapsed, we were able to get more water into the church to fight the flames."
Inspector Jackson said that the fire had taken three hours to extinguish and noted that there were still smouldering spot underneath the roof collapse that needed to be extinguished.
He said fire investigators who travelled down from Sydney would be investigating the cause of the blaze on Sunday.
"We will have an accelerant sniffing dog, too. If it finds nothing, at least it rules that out as a cause."
* Do you know more? Please comment on our Facebook page and share any photos from the fire. Please email photos to editor.westernadvocate@ruralpress.com
