Firefighters Battle 2-Alarm Church Fire in Lamont

LAMONT, Calif., Dec. 19 (KNN) — A church under construction erupted into a two-alarm blaze early Thursday morning, prompting a response from the Kern County Fire Department.

Just before 5 a.m., the Kern County FD was dispatched to reports of a structure fire in the 10000 block of Habecker Road in Lamont, where a large orange glow was visible to responding firefighters as far away as Highway 58, according to the KCFD.

Once at the scene, crews discovered a large burning church, approximately 10,000 square feet in size, engulfed in smoke and flames.

Firefighters immediately attacked the fire while protecting nearby exposed homes and trees. The roof and several walls of the church collapsed under the flames.

After the fire was primarily fought defensively and ultimately extinguished, crews began searching the scene for potential victims. No one was found in the vacant, under-construction building.

The KCFD Fire Heavy Equipment Specialists were called to the scene to assist in removing a significant amount of debris from the fire, including heavy metal roof panels, according to the KCFD.

No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Brandon Barraza, Video Journalist / KNN