Church Bonfire Extinguished

By Firefighters

Following a call from a nearby resident, Hawleyville firefighters responded to the rear parking lot at Grace Christian Fellowship Church at 174 Mt Pleasant Road on the night of Sunday, October 28, and extinguished a bonfire that had been lit as part of a church youth group activity.

There were no injuries in the incident.

Before igniting the fire, the town’s fire dispatch center had been notified that a bonfire would be lit in the church’s rear gravel parking lot, explained Reverend Adam Fredericks, the church’s pastor for children and youth.

However, after the fire was ignited, a resident of the adjacent Liberty at Newtown age-restricted condominium complex reported the fire to the dispatch center, after which Hawleyville firefighters were sent to the area at 7:58 pm to investigate.

Hawleyville Fire Chief Joe Farrell said that wooden pallets were being burned in the fire which he considered to be “construction debris,” so firefighters decided to extinguish the blaze. Also, there were many children in the area of the fire, he noted.

About 50 gallons of water was put on the fire, he said.

Church members were advised to consult the town fire marshal’s office about rules covering such fires.

Of the incident, Rev Fredericks said, “It was very disappointing to our kids.” Precautions had been taken by the church to ensure that the bonfire would not spread, he said.

The church had previously consulted with fire officials about lighting such a fire, he said.

The church has had such bonfires on the last Sunday in October for the past several years, Rev Fredericks said.