Federal Investigators Arrive To San Gabriel Mission To Search for Answers After Destructive Fire7/11/2020 Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor SAN GABRIEL - The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is joining the investigation into a fire that virtually destroyed the San Gabriel Mission Saturday.
Although a cause has yet to be determined, the preliminary investigation does not point to an immediate sign of arson, according to the city of San Gabriel in a written statement. It took firefighters more than two hours to knock down the massive blaze. “The roof is completely gone and it’s completely destroyed inside,” according to San Gabriel Fire Department Captain Antonio Negrete. Firefighters responded to investigate a fire alarm at the mission, 428 S. Mission Dr., at 4:24 a.m. July 11. Fire and smoke were immediately seen from the roof, Negrete told SGV CityWatch. Firefighters attempted to make an aggressive attack on the flames from inside of the mission, but falling debris forced firefighters to go into defensive mode, Negrete told SGV CityWatch. No firefighters were injured. 50 firefighters and 12 fire companies from surrounding cities worked to extinguish the flames. Firefighters declared the flames knocked down at 6:48 a.m., Negrete told SGV CityWatch. Founded September 6, 1771, the mission was undergoing renovations recently to repair the nave walls and the pews were removed for refinishing and refurbishment, according to the San Gabriel Mission website. The current church structure was completed in 1805. |
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