Fire causes severe damage to 2nd Ave. church in Albany

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Fire crews battled a fire at the Elijah Missionary Baptist Church on Second Avenue in Albany Thursday night. The Albany Fire Department said multiple calls came in around 11 p.m.

No injuries or damage to surrounding properties have been reported. City officials will inspect the church on Friday morning and decide whether it needs to be torn down or not.

Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan highlighted just how important this church was to the local community while on the scene of the fire, "We're here at a church that has been a place of celebration. It has been a place of sorrow. It has been a bedrock corner of this community. It really is devastating to see a church that is not only historic but also such an important part of the community, fully in flames."

Led by Bishop Avery Comithier, the church has been one of the city's biggest proponents of addressing violent crime. The investigation into the cause of the fire remains ongoing.