Fire Damages First Presbyterian Church (UPDATED)

Fire has done significant damage to the First Presbyterian Church building at Temple and Maple in Effingham.

The fire appears to have originated in the office area shortly after 1pm Thursday. No injuries occurred.

Fire companies were on scene from Effingham, Altamont, Teutopolis and Shumway, along with Rural Med EMS, Effingham Police Department, Effingham City Dispatch, and Ameren Electric and Gas.

(THE OFFICE AREA OF FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WHERE IT APPEARS THURSDAY'S FIRE ORIGINATED)

While there was smoke throughout the building, the fire was confined to the office area. A firewall separating those two portions of the church building limited the spread of the fire. Effingham Fire Chief Brant Yochum also complimented the first arriving fire crew, that he said did a great job in knocking down the fire. There is no word on what caused the fire.

Fire crews vented the smoke from the church building and a cleanup service was on scene as of mid-afternoon. The Illinois Fire Marshal's Office was called to assist with determining the cause of the fire.