Church Fire Caused By Person Sleeping In Crawlspace: Con Fire

CONCORD, CA — Investigators with the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District have pinpointed the cause of a two-alarm fire Thursday morning at a Concord church.

The fire, which was reported at 5:30 a.m. Thursday at Christ Community Church of the Nazarene, 1650 Ashbury Drive, started in the crawlspace under the church near sleeping materials and other personal items belonging to a person who was temporarily sheltering under the church without permission, officials with Con Fire said Friday evening in a news release.

All other possible ignition sources were eliminated, Con Fire Spokesperson Steve Hill said.

"Investigators could not determine whether the fire was intentionally or accidentally," Hill said.

A search dog was used in the investigation and confirmed there were no human remains in or under the fire structure, Hill said.

Moreover, no injuries happened while fighting or investigating the fire.

"Con Fire’s Fire Investigation Unit (FIU) thanks all members of the investigative team — including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF); Concord Police Department investigators; and the property’s insurance investigators — for their support and commitment to quick resolution of this case," Hill said.

According to a report about the fire, the first crew of firefighters to arrive at the scene Thursday morning were met with heavy smoke and flames from the first and second floors of a portion of the church.

"Engine 6 immediately called a second alarm (additional Fire Engines for assistance)," Con Fire said in the report. "Bystanders reported a possible citizen inside, leading crews to make an aggressive interior fire attack to search for possible victims.

"Due to floor collapse and heavy fire involvement in the two-story portion of the building, crews were pushed to a defensive position. Interior crews were repositioned to prevent horizontal spread to the single-story portion of the building, while exterior crews extinguished the main body of fire.

"Because of this combination of ventilation tactics and fire attack, a large majority of the church was saved including the chapel, offices, daycare, classrooms, etc."

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