93-3-WMR Audio on Demand presents the Preston and Steve show podcast.

And now, Preston and Steve's news update with Kathy Romano.

Today is Tuesday. It is March 21st. Good morning, Kathy. Good morning in the news this morning.

A massive eight alarm fire destroyed a church in South Jersey Monday evening.

The flames broke out at about 6 p.m. at the Fountain of Life Center located on the 2000 block of Columbus Road in Florence Township.

Kids were playing basketball in the rear of the church when they reported seeing smoke.

It didn't take long before the building was completely engulfed in flames.

More than 150 firefighters from across South Jersey and Pennsylvania helped fight the flames and supply water.

The fire appeared to be under control as of 11 p.m. last night, but crews continued to extinguish hotspots early this morning.

Officials with the church are planning to hold Sunday services in a recreation area of the property that was spared

by the flames. There's also a K-12 school next door that they say firefighters were able to save.

No injuries were reported. Officials believe the blaze may have started in the sanctuary of the church.

The exact cause is still under investigation. When I was a kid, our church burned down and it sucked.

It was, you know, really took its toll on the community. However, one thing that was really a nice silver line to all of it was that all of the churches surrounding that church invited the congregations in. And so, like, we had a place to go for the better part of two years. It's funny. I was just about to mention the same thing. Same thing happened to me, Nick, but we would have the services in the gym. Oh, no kidding.

So for my earliest years, it seemed weird. Same thing. Same thing happened to me, Nick, but we would have the services in the gym.

Oh, no kidding.

So for my earliest years, it seemed weird to see a priest without a basketball.

Right. Yeah. Yeah. And at first, a lot of people thought that we were Episcopal.

Yeah, so I guess there was an area that was, you know, didn't burn down. They said they'll go there.

But they were crediting the firefighters for, they said the school could have easily burnt as well. And they were able to save it. What's it? So, and I know we've talked about this before. I'm just stupid and I forget what it means. So eight alarms means eight separate. Oh, man. I know we've done this a couple of times. I still can't grasp it.

Well, so you have, like, but they also cover, right?

So like... means eight separate. Oh man, I know we've done this a couple of times. I still can't grasp it.

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