Fire officials are crediting a sprinkler system with controlling a church fire in Zion until firefighters could extinguish it, preventing what could have been major damage.
The Zion Fire Rescue Department responded around 8:05 p.m. Wednesday to the Trinity Christian Center, 2600 Lewis Avenue in Zion, for a report of a structure fire.
Zion Fire Rescue Department Chief Justin Stried said firefighters arrived to find the church was in the process of being evacuated.
They learned of a fire in the basement and crews entered to find a small fire in a storage closet.
The fire had been extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system, Stried said.
Smoky conditions existed and firefighters ensured the fire was completely out before evacuating smoke.
All building occupants were accounted for and safe. No injuries were reported.
Stried said the building’s sprinkler system did its job and likely saved the building from major damage.
The Beach Park and Winthrop Harbor fire departments assisted at the scene.
Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the fire, Stried said.
The incident was reported to the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal, which is assisting in the investigation.