Fire destroys church building in Townsend

TOWNSEND, Mass. -- A religious education center in Townsend was destroyed by a fire on Thursday evening.

"Upon arrival we had heavy fire showing from a garage and a truck,? said Chief Donald Klein of the Townsend Fire Department.

Fire officials say the fire may have started in the garage of the home next door and spread to a religious building, where children at St. Johns Catholic Church have Sunday school.

Firefighters were able to salvage the home, but the fire destroyed the religious education center.

"It?s a beautiful building,? said Father Phillip Conroy.

Father Phillip Conroy, a retired priest, was filling-in until?a new pastor comes this weekend.

"We?re going to welcome him to the burnt building here," Father Conroy said.

Father Conroy lives in the neighborhood. When he saw the building up in flames, Father Conroy?said he was?"?shocked - shocked and saddened.?

The building is a total loss.

"They?ll have to do something. They need a place to educate the children,? said Father Conroy.

As Father Conroy watched the firefighters go inside the building, "I pray for them, I know they?re very competent. I have a nephew who?s a firefighter in Cambridge and I'm very proud of him,? he said.

Eight fire departments responded to the fire on Thursday.

There were no reports of injuries. Fire officials say they are still investigating the cause of the fire.

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Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45821860/ns/local_news-boston_ma/

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