Post-fire church services planned

Marisa O’Neil

A local church will still have services Sunday, despite a fire

Wednesday that caused extensive damage and cut off its electricity.

Initial estimates placed the amount of damage at about $15,000,

but further investigations turned up about $100,000 of damage to the

building, the Rev. Julie Elkins, pastor of the First United Methodist

Church of Costa Mesa said Friday. The fire damaged an electrical

panel in the 19th Street church and spread between the ceiling of the

first level and the floor of the second level.

“We’re still going to have services on Sunday in our recreation

hall,” Elkins said.

The church’s sanctuary was not damaged but utilities were shut

off, Elkins said. The lack of electricity is forcing the church to

temporarily suspend evening programs, such as Bible study, Alcoholics

Anonymous meetings and some planned movie nights, she said.

Wednesday’s fire started just after 1 p.m. in a small electrical

room and spread to portions of a meeting room, fire officials said. A

homeless man apparently started the fire when he knocked over a

lighted can of burner fuel, which ignited nearby papers, clothes and

the electrical panel, Costa Mesa Fire Capt. Herb Ohde said.

“It looks like it was accidental,” Ohde said. “It doesn’t look

like anything malicious.”

The room was kept locked, and it is not clear how the man got

inside, Elkins said.

After the fire, the homeless man was taken to Hoag Hospital for a

chronic foot problem and released, Ohde said. He was not burned in

the fire, Ohde added.

“I saw him today on a park bench, and he was fine,” the captain

said.

The church formerly provided a showering program and some food

services for homeless people and was in the process of reviving some

of the services.

Smoke from the fire caused much of the additional damage, Elkins

said. Hand bells and a piano in the church suffered smoke damage and

will need to be professionally cleaned, she said.

Fire caused $29,000 damage to the building’s electrical system

alone, she said. Elkins said she hopes the electricity is repaired in

time for Christmas Eve services.

* MARISA O’NEIL covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (714) 966-4618 or by e-mail at [email protected].