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Blaze destroys rural church in west Alabama

New Hope No. 1 Baptist Church Facebook

THOMASVILLE, Ala. (AP) — What police are describing as an accidental fire has destroyed a church in rural west Alabama.

The New Hope No. 1 Baptist Church went up in flames early Thursday in Thomasville.

Police Chief Mitchell Stuckey tells WKRG-TV that authorities believe the fire was caused by a power surge after a tree fell and knocked out power in the area earlier.

The building that burned was an old sanctuary located beside a new worship space that's under construction. The church was still using it for services.

A message on the church's Facebook page shows a photo of the smoldering ruins. It calls the destruction of the building a "great loss."

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