Firefighters battle fire at First Baptist Dallas Church in Downtown Dallas

DALLAS — Plumes of black smoke were seen rising through the Downtown Dallas skyline Friday evening.

Dallas Fire Rescue (DFR) responded to a fourth-alarm fire just after 6 p.m. at the First Baptist Dallas Church at 1707 San Jacinto St.

When firefighters arrived they were met with heavy smoke and immediately started attacking the blaze. From videos and photos posted on social media, several fire engines were on the scene.

DFR confirmed to WFAA that the “structure involved is the secondary chapel.” Chopper 8 captured the moment when the spire toppled over as crews battled the flames.

Officials say no one was injured in the fire.

Pastor Robert Jeffress, who was elected pastor of First Baptist Dallas in August of 2007, spoke downtown as firefighters continued to fight the fire, and said he had been baptized and ordained as a minister in that very church.

“I had just left the church a little bit after 6 p.m. when we got word that the church was on fire, our historic sanctuary,” Jeffress said, emotional. 

The building has been around since 1890, Jeffress said, and was the home of the church before they moved into a new center about 12 years ago. 

“We had just concluded vacation bible school with over 2,000 kids,” Jeffress said. “They were all gone. God has protected us through all of this.”

Jeffress said they don’t know the cause of the fire at this time.

“I’m grateful that the church is not bricks and mortar or wood, it’s people,” he said. “And the people of God will endure. First Baptist Dallas will endure.”

Residents from as far as Irving have reported being able to see the fire on the Dallas skyline.

This is a developing story WFAA will provide updates as soon as it becomes available.