DENVER — Firefighters worked to extinguish a fire at a church in north Denver on Thursday morning.
The fire was visible from Sky 9 at the Odom Memorial Church of God in Christ near East 33rd Avenue and North Williams Street.
The Denver Fire Department (DFD) said the fire broke out in the attic of the church at about 6:16 a.m. About an hour later, DFD declared the fire under control.
Assistant pastor AJ McDonald woke to a phone call Thursday morning alerting him to the news.
“I turned on the television, and sure enough, the top of the roof was in full flames and I was just in shock," McDonald said. "It was so jolting just to see that.”
McDonald said the building has been in north Denver since 1933. His father, W.H. McDonald, became senior pastor of the church in 1983.
“We were just here Sunday," said H.W. McDonald. "This could have happened Sunday during Easter, but it didn’t happen.”
H.W. McDonald sees the timing of the fire as a blessing.
“You can’t replace some history, but no lives were taken," he said. "No one was in the building.”
The two pastors and members of their congregation came to the church Thursday morning and watched as a restoration crew boarded up windows and tore down pieces of a damaged awning.
“My whole life has been spent down here, but then I understand and realize it’s a building," said AJ McDonald.
The church was not destroyed, but there is significant damage, DFD said.
“Blessedly, the fire did not hit the sanctuary, but we’ve got some water damage and smoke damage and that kind of thing, too," AJ McDonald said.
The Odom Memorial Church of God in Christ started a GoFundMe Thursday and asked the community to keep the church family in its prayers.
DFD said more than 60 firefighters battled the fire Thursday morning. One firefighter fell through a hole in the floor and had minor injuries, but he was able to go back to work.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Photos: Denver church fire
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Local stories from 9NEWS
MORE WAYS TO GET 9NEWS
Subscribe to our daily 9NEWSLETTER
Download the 9NEWS APP
iTunes: http://on9news.tv/itunes
Google Play: http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n
HOW TO ADD THE 9NEWS APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KUSA.
For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "9news" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.
> Top stories curated daily just for you! Sign up for the 9NEWSLETTER to get can’t-miss stories, Next and Broncos content, weather and more delivered right to your inbox.