DALLAS -- All that’s left of an Oak Cliff sanctuary is its walls.
Firefighters are still in the 800 block of North Westmoreland Road sifting through the damage as church members look on in disbelief.
No fire is easy to watch, but the one that tore through Iglesia De Cristo early Wednesday morning is especially tough for Lt. Joel Lavender of Dallas Fire-Rescue.
"I think it's hurtful because I know what church means to me, personally," he said.
He and about 75 other firefighters raced over to the church at about 6:40 a.m.
Flames were gutting the sanctuary. Firefighters went on the defense and stopped them from spreading into the children's Bible classrooms.
Longtime members are now relying on prayer as they get ready to rebuild.
Pastor Miguel Puga says his church has been here for about a decade. He and his family live next door and woke up to the horrible news.
"It’s hard to see the whole temple burned down," his wife said.
While fire took their temple down, the people who fill it and their faith are ever-strong.
"It’s just going to be a matter of time for us to have it rebuilt," Puga said.
ATF agents are now working alongside Dallas-Fire Rescue on their investigation. That is standard procedure when a fire involves a church.
Engineers are also on site making sure the front of the sanctuary doesn't fall down.