Electrical fire caused First Methodist Marshall blaze

Published 3:45 pm Wednesday, December 18, 2024

The Marshall Fire Department says an electrical fire started the blaze that destroyed First Methodist Marshall’s historic sanctuary last week, and that the fire was unintentional.

“Investigators have determined that the fire originated in the lower level of the church where administrative offices are located,” a press release from the City of Marshall said.

The fire, which was first reported at 1:15 a.m., quickly spread to the historic sanctuary and required a multi-agency response that included Marshall Fire Department, neighboring emergency service districts and the Longview Fire Department. After approximately 15 hours of intensive firefighting operations, the fire was brought under control, though crews remained on scene for several days to ensure complete extinguishment, the city said.

“The church leadership has been notified of the findings, and they are working with their insurance representatives to determine next steps,” the city said. “The building remains secured with temporary fencing while structural assessments are completed.”