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Updated: 11:06 AM May 12, 2008
Cause of Fire at St. Ann's Catholic Church Still Undetermined
Investigators are done sifting through the ashes of what is left of St. Ann's Catholic Church but the cause of the fire still has not been determined. Posted: 8:16 AM Apr 21, 2008 |
St. Anne's Catholic Church in Effingham, KS is destroyed by an early morning fire on April 21, 2008.
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April 23, 2008
Atchison County Sheriff John Calhoon says officials have finished their on site investigation into Monday morning's fire that destroyed St. Ann's Church.
Sheriff Calhoon says samples of the charred remains of St. Ann's have been sent to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation for testing but that it would be a while before the results come back.
But that right now there is no concrete evidence one way or the other on the cause of the fire, meaning that the cause is still listed as undetermined. He did, however, confirm that the fire started on the west end of the church.
Sheriff Calhoon says church board members have already started the process of determining what they will do with what remains of the church.
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April 22, 2008
EFFINGHAM, Kan. (AP) _ An accelerant-sniffing dog is helping
search for the cause of a fire that destroyed a 111-year-old church
in northeast Kansas.
Eight volunteer fire companies and about 100 firefighters battled the Monday morning fire that destroyed St. Ann's Catholic Church in Effingham. The cause is undetermined, but Atchison County Undersheriff Larry Myer said there have been a few recent arson fires in the area.
Officials said fire crews poured 150,000 gallons of water on the flames, draining the town's water tower and forcing several area
schools to close Monday. Firefighters hauled water from other
communities and even farm ponds in the area to battle the flames.
Investigators from the Kansas State Fire Marshal's office and the federal bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms surveyed the
scene Monday afternoon.
A prayer vigil was held Monday night in the church's parking lot as the community and congregation struggle with the loss of St. Ann's.
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April 21, 2008
Fire crews in Effingham spent Monday morning battling a blaze in St. Ann's Catholic Church.
The church has been declared a total loss after the fire completely destroyed it, according to Atchison County Under Sheriff Larry Myer.
Myer said the blaze started approximately 3:05 a.m. and was still burning shortly before 8 a.m.
The investigation is just getting underway and the ATF has been notified according to Myer.
Steve Weisman, Superintendent of Atchison County Community Schools, informed 13 News that all schools in Effingham will be closed today (Monday). That includes Effingham Elementary, Atchison County Community Middle School, and Atchison County Community High School.
Weisman said the water tower was completely drained while fighting the fire, and he did not expect to have water back by this afternoon.
All school activities will be held as usual though.
If you have any information about this fire, Myer asks that you give him a call at 913-370-2301.
Latest Comments
It's the strangest thing that last week I was awakened in the middle of the night to scan an old ... I mean old picture and to "colorize" it to send it to friends and relatives. Turns out it was my Grandma Loretta Burns marrying Paul Justin Sullivan in that Church on September 15, 1919 - the same Church that my Grandma Loretta was baptized. I don't know why I was moved to go get this picture out of the garage in the Tampa Bay Area and colorize and forward it when I did, but as this happened, this Church was burning to the ground. God indeed works in mysterious ways. My Grandmother died on 9-11 ... but 9/11/1993.
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I was so sad to hear the church burned down. I grew up in Effingham. I loved going to the picnics held there during the summers. I was so glad to hear the Pastor is ok. I know it has been a great loss to the community, us that have moved away are feeling the effects also. My fellow church members here are praying for the St Ann's members and also praying they find the funds to rebuild. Though nothing could compare to the beauty that they all lost. God Bless
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It is a shame that such a beautiful landmark went up in flames. I had my first communion, confirmed, and was married in Sacred Heart in Newbury(north of Paxico). It holds a lot of beauty and memories for me and my family, and I will always consider myself a member of that parish. The church in Effingham is the same for everyone who attended mass there and was part of that special feeling of being in the presence of the Holy Spirit in such a wonderful church. I feel for those who attended mass there, and as a fellow Roman Catholic, stand with you in sorrow in your loss. I hope this was not an arson as previously thought. What kind of a person would do that if indeed comes to fruition?
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