Fire, smoke damage downtown Rochester church

Fire crews on a lift and inside a second-floor window work to douse the flames of a fire at the First United Methodist Church in Rochester on Tuesday night. (Memento Mori photo)

ROCHESTER - A Rochester church was damaged in a smoky fire Tuesday evening.

The blaze at the First United Methodist Church on South Main Street broke out in an exterior wall on the first floor, according to Deputy Chief Tim Wilder.

Upon arrival at the scene around 5:45 p.m. crews were met with smoke on the first floor and it was apparent the fire was starting to extend to the second-floor sanctuary.

Once access was gained to the second floor crews were met with heavy smoke conditions, prompting a first-alarm to engage additional resources.

Initial crews, however, did an excellent job locating, exposing and extinguishing the fire, Wilder said.

Crews cleared the scene at 9:15 p.m.

The fire investigation is ongoing.