SANTA ANA (CNS) - Firefighters needed about two hours this morning to extinguish a fire that erupted inside a vacant two-story 109-year-old church in Santa Ana.
Crews responded to the 100 block of East Santa Ana Boulevard, near Main Street, about 2:40 a.m. and found fire going through the roof of an abandoned church and immediately upgraded the call to a third alarm structure fire, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.
About 3:20 a.m., the fire was declared a four-alarm emergency and firefighters took up defensive positions, battling the blaze from the exterior, the OCFA said. Video from the scene showed flames engulfing the building and shooting high into the night sky.
At least 100 firefighters battled the flames and a knockdown was called at 4:38 a.m., the OCFA said.
No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire was under investigation.
The building, which was built in 1911, formerly housed the United Presbyterian Church and was later home to Templo Calvario and the Orange County Pacific Symphony. It is categorized as a landmark because it is listed on both the national and California registers.