A massive blaze has torn through a historic church in Leicester, sending plumes of smoke billowing across the cityscape. The fire erupted at St Andrew's Church on Jarrom Street just after midnight on Wednesday, July 29, with numerous fire crews racing to the scene.
Flames and smoke spread across Leicester
Footage shared on social media showed flames ravaging the building, while parts of the roof also sustained damage. Thick black smoke was visible across Leicester as firefighters battled to get the inferno under control. The church is situated near several university buildings, and locals reported both seeing and smelling the smoke from various parts of the city, according to Leicester Live.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service issued a warning urging residents to keep their homes sealed while crews dealt with the incident. A spokesperson for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Control stated: "There is an incident on Jarrom Street in Leicester City, this is sending smoke over the city. Please keep windows and doors closed!"
Community reacts as historic church burns
Locals swiftly took to social media to describe the magnitude of the fire and the smoke spreading across Leicester. One individual posted on Reddit: "I can smell and see it from my flat on the other side of the city centre." Another person complained that the sheer amount of smoke was "stinking out" the city centre.
St Andrew's Church has been a pillar of the local community for over 150 years and has long been a parish in the Catholic tradition of Anglicanism. The church is a well-recognised landmark in the area and has been a place of worship for generations.
Investigation pending
The full extent of the destruction has yet to be confirmed by Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service. The cause of the fire and whether anyone has been injured remains unknown at this time. Investigations into what sparked the fire are set to commence once it is safe for crews to enter the church.
