Ice creates extra difficulty as firefighters extinguish Buena church fire
TOPPENISH, Wash. - Yakima County Fire (YCF) Department extinguished a fire after a Yakima Sherriff Officer (YSO) reported heavy smoke and flames coming from the roof of the Buena church.
Firefighters arrived at 820 Buena Road early Thursday morning to find the fire covering about half of the church, according to a report from YCF District 5.
A large structural collapse of about half the building occurred as firefighters were preparing the hose to put out the fire, crews report.
Crews attacked the fire from the outside only, causing the rest of the building to collapse. Officials say that the fire was then extinguished completely.
Reports say one firefighter was injured and taken to Yakima Regional medical center and was released around noon Thursday.
Firefighters say they faced extra challenges in dealing with ice and operating the hose.
The cause of the fire is undetermined, and YCF is not yet sure of how it started.
