ROCK HILL, N.C.  Smoke could be seen for miles as dozens of firefighters battled a blaze at a church that officials described as a complete structural loss.
According to The Charlotte-Observer, no one was inside Freedom Temple Ministries Jan 11 when fire erupted about 7:25 p.m., sending smoke and flames more than 50 feet into the air. About 60 firefighters responded to the downtown blaze.
The nondenominational church grew from small services with about 40 people at Winthrop University in 2000 to its current 1,500-member congregation. The new building was dedicated in October. Church officials had hoped the new building would give them space to expand summer school, and before- and after-school programs.
Earlier this year, Freedom Temple Ministries hosted the NAACP's Jubilee Day, commemorating the Emancipation Proclamation, the newspaper reported. The Rev. Herbert Clump Jr., the church pastor, is an executive committee member of the Rock Hill branch of the NAACP.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
