Here are some of the details of the Happy Ending fire at Union church.
Lighting struck the steeple at about 4am. It didn't burst into an open fire until about 7am.
There are two real heroes in this story.
First, Laura Aldridge, who lives next door to the church, heard the lighting hit around 4am but was unaware of any consequences. When she was leaving for work, at 7am, she noticed a puff of smoke on the church steeple and immediately called 911.
Minutes later 3 Fire Departments were on the scene and Spring Valley was on the road.
By that time the steeple was engulfed in open flames and hot chucks were falling on the roof. One spot on the roof was starting to smolder. (See Laura's photo below which she took after calling 911)
Second, the volunteer firefighters, in pouring rain, climbed ladders and somehow made it up a rain sleek roof to reach the bell tower. They had to chop a small hole in the roof to make sure the smoldering was extinguished.
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[Update: We learned that even though the roof was of asphalt shingles, the steeple exterior was slate- and so the slate served to contain the fire long enough til the firemen arrived.]
The boom on the Xenia South's equipment was raised and started pumping water into the flames. There were plenty of water trucks (or whatever the official name is) to keep the water stream going - since there are no fire hydrants in that township neighborhood.
It was about 9am before they were sure the fire was completely doused.
The amazing thing is that only a few spills of water reached the sanctuary.
The two heroes, Laura Aldridge and the volunteer firemen saved Union Church, with all its tradition, from major disaster!!!
The ironic factor is the church had a grounded lighting rod on the steeple. Shows what a powerful strike it was (it shook my house some dozen houses away.)
One more story: Laura called her father, Russell Curtis, after phoning 911 and told him the church was on fire. Russell, a member of Eleazer church, immediately thought that Eleazer was on fire, jumped in his car and headed that way. Believe it or not, he was no sooner on the road when he heard on the radio that Union church was on fire.
You can't tell me that God didn't have a hand in all of this......
John Fristoe (Newsletter Editor)
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