Church Fire Forces Relocation of Services

Fire caused heavy damage yesterday at a church in Western Maryland, upsetting and displacing a rural congregation in a holiday season.

"It's very devastating," said Mary Edgar, a member of St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church in Grantsville, Md. "It's a bad time of year," for the congregation to be displaced, said Steve Kamp, another member.

Edgar said Mass would be held this morning at the Grantsville Elementary School. Christmas Eve services will be held at the school later today , she said.

The fire broke out in a section of the church that once was a rectory and more recently has been used for offices and classrooms. The cause was not immediately known and was reported as under investigation.

David Stein, president and safety officer of the Grantsville Volunteer Fire Department, said firefighters heading for another call about 6:30 a.m. spotted the flames "coming through windows" and on the roof of the church.

With firefighters from nearby communities, the volunteers quelled the flames before they reached the sanctuary, but there was "a lot of smoke damage" there, Stein said.

"Everything is black" from the smoke, Kamp said. He said he believed it would be "some time" before the building could be restored.

Grantsville is about 140 miles northwest of Washington, in Garrett County, the westernmost in Maryland. The church is near Interstate 68 and Route 40.