Pembina Valley RCMP responded to a fire at the Grace-St. John’s Anglican Lutheran Church on 2nd Street SW in Carman at approximately 4:15 a.m. on March 13.
When officers arrived, they found the Carman-Dufferin Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services already at the scene. Unfortunately, firefighters were unable to enter the building as the floor had collapsed into the basement.
Thankfully, no one was inside at the time, and there were no injuries reported.
Upon arrival, heavy flames were pushing out the front entrance, with approximately 75 percent of the interior engulfed in fire.
“Immediately, a rapid defensive attack was started, and entry was attempted,” said Carman-Dufferin Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief Joey McElroy. “The floor inside the main entrance was severely compromised, preventing firefighters from entering. So the entry was made in the side door to the sanctuary and rear door that went down to the basement.”
An offensive attack began as fire crews breached an exterior wall to access the rear office area. The response involved 18 fire department members and all five firefighting apparatus.
McElroy noted that neighboring fire departments were nearly called for assistance; however, the fire was declared under control within the first couple of hours.
Firefighters spent several hours on the scene, totaling about 10 hours by the end of the day, which included a significant cleanup effort.
“Investigators from the Office of the Fire Commissioner and the Insurance company are working to determine the cause of the fire,” said McElroy. “The investigation could take some time, but fortunately, we were able to keep the structure standing and give investigators a chance.”
This is heartbreaking news, as the Grace-St. John’s Church had more than 130 years of worship history, beginning when the property was purchased along the Boyne River in 1892. In 1950, Lutheran families began gathering at the Graysville Anglican Church to worship until they purchased land and established the Grace Lutheran Church in 1952. Eventually, the St. John’s Church amalgamated with the Grace Church to form the church as it stands today.
As the fire is currently deemed suspicious, the Pembina Valley RCMP is asking anyone with video footage from 3:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. in the area of the fire to come forward and contact the local RCMP detachment at 204-745-6760. The RCMP and the Office of the Fire Commissioner continue to investigate the incident.
Standard Photos by Joey McElroy
The historic Grace-St. John’s Anglican Lutheran Church was severely damaged in a tragic early morning on March 13. The Pembina Valley RCMP has classified the fire as suspicious and is asking the public to provide any video footage of the church from those early hours
