Vineland church fire: What we know about blaze at Voice of Deliverance

VINELAND — Once a focal point of community and congregation, Voice of Deliverance New Covenant Evangelical Church now stands charred and battered, and officials say it will have to be knocked down.

The church, located at 1413 East Chestnut Avenue near Main Road, was fully engulfed Monday night. It grew to a third-alarm assignment within 20 minutes, officials said.

"It’s going to have to be knocked down," Tramontana said. "It was fully involved throughout. The building is still standing. The interior’s gone."

Traffic on East Chestnut Avenue flowed Aug. 8 past a destroyed version of the church, as first responders continued to investigate the fire that ripped through it late the night before.

The smell of smoke lingered in the air from the multi-alarm blaze that drew crews from all six Vineland fire stations. Forest Grove and Rosenhayn fire companies also came out, said Deputy Fire Chief Mark Cifaloglio at the scene.

Vineland's fire investigation unit, ATF and the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety were working together to determine a cause, explained Cifaloglio.

Joe Matoz, who lives just behind the church, dropped off donuts courtesy of local bakery Crust N Krumbs, much to the joy of Cifaloglio. The deputy chief said he'd been working off of a piece of pizza, courtesy of the Pizza Hut across the street, and a donut all day.

Drivers passing bye gawked at the burnt structure that framed a clear blue sky, and foot traffic across the street stalled and lingered as people watched the crews bustle around the building.

"My whole house shook," Matoz said, recounting when the church had caught fire around 10:30 p.m. the night prior.

Fire Chief Luigi Tramontana Jr. said firefighters initially went into the church to attack the fire. "But then, we went to defensive as soon as the fire started rapidly spreading through the whole building," he said.

Tramontana said it took about two and a half hours to get the fire controlled. Two passersby had seen the church was on fire and called 911 to report it, he said.

It's not clear yet how the fire started. Lightning-heavy storms had rolled through South Jersey for much of the evening.

"We have no idea at the present time," Tramontana said. "We’re evaluating all possible causes."

Angel Lopez, who lives directly behind the church, said he and his wife had been watching TV when the blaze started.

"We heard the lightning, thunder, and we heard the explosion," Lopez said. He said his house also shook, and he recalled seeing a strong flash from lightning through the window at the time.

"Then I hear all these trucks, and we're hearing all this commotion," Lopez said. "And I hear the firefighters coming through my backyard."

Pastor Charles Hawkins and Senior Pastor Betty Hawkins lead the congregation he founded in 1978 as the Voice of Deliverance Crusade Ministry, according to the church website. It was later incorporated, and the church was due to celebrate its 35th anniversary with a special event Aug. 27, according to the website.

"In 1988 Apostle Charles Hawkins was given a Divine Commission by God to build an Army Of Believers who know that the NAME OF JESUS really works," the announcement reads.

Senator Michael Testa (R-1) expressed his sorrow upon hearing of the church fire.

"This church was a safe place in the community where people from all walks of life could congregate, pray, and become closer to God," Testa said.

Church fire: Why firefighters could not save the huge South Jersey church destroyed by fire

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Voice of Deliverance church in Vineland destroyed in massive fire