Crews battle 'stubborn' 2-alarm fire at house next to First Baptist Church

Fire crews put out a two-alarm blaze at a house attached tothe west side of theFirst Baptist Church in Calgary's Beltline district Wednesday morning.

Someone in the Sheldon M. ChumirHealth Centre across the street called 911 at about 10 a.m. to report smoke coming from the church buildings at 13th Avenue and Fourth Street S.W.

"When fire crews arrived, smoke and flames were visible and the fire was upgraded to a second alarm," said Calgary Fire Department spokeswoman Carol Henke in a release.

Nobody was in the house at the time and the adjacent circa-1912 church was evacuated as crews fought the blaze, which Henke described as stubborn.

"The construction of the building hamperedfirefighting efforts as the fire waseasily travelingbetween the floors, hidden behind walls and along joists," she said.

"Firefighters had to open up the walls in multiple areas insidethe building to fight the fire."

Extensive damage to building

There were no injuries. Damage to the house was extensive, but the church was not affected.

By about noon crews had extinguished the fire and were looking for hot spots.

Henke said the work was expected to keep fire crews busythrough the night.

As well, 13th Avenue S.W. between 4th Street and 5th Street was expected to remainclosed for several hours.

The origin and cause of the fire is not yet known, Henke said.

The house, originally the church manse, is no longer a residence but isusedas meeting space for the church.

Jonathon Shierman, associate minister at First Baptist Church,issued a statement thanking first responders.

"We are so grateful for their professionalism, efficiency, and service especially with the cold weather," he said.