CITRONELLE, Ala. — As church leaders grappled with how to handle growth at First Baptist Church of Citronelle, the building's electrical wiring chimed in with an opinion.

Alabama's fire marshal's office said electrical wires in the attic sparked a fire that gutted the of the 56-year-old brick building Sept. 24, according to the Mobile Register.

Those in the building, including 30 napping daycare children, fled as flames raced through building. No one was injured.

A church committee was scheduled to meet the following evening to discuss whether to remodel, expand or relocate the church.

"The remodeling question was answered last night," said committee member Ronnie Lee. "This has changed a lot of the aspect of what we will and won't do."

The church was built to seat 300, Lee said, adding the congregation needs space for at least 500.

"We've been on a steady growth pattern over the past three or four years," he said. "We're just a God-loving, friendly church and people are coming."

The church will conduct services in Citronelle High School until the church decides what to do about a permanent home. The newspaper reported the daycare has been offered two spare classrooms at a local elementary school.

Daycare director Liz Anne Stewart said the community has offered much of what was lost in the fire.

"It's pretty much a community that pulls together," Steward said. "Everybody in the community knows us."

She called the fire's timing ironic.

"It's just a little eerie," she said. "I think God has a sense of humor."