LAWRENCE — Fire gutted a storefront church and its thrift shop at 191 Newbury St. early Christmas morning.
"Every one had a Merry Christmas, except for me," said the Rev. Ana Rita Torres, pastor of Iglesia Nueva Jerusalem (New Jerusalem Church). "So many miracles happened in there and so many souls were saved. That's why it hurts so much. It feels like someone dear has died."
Deputy fire Chief Jack Bergeron said the first call came in at 3:33 a.m.; the second alarm was 5 minutes later, and a third alarm shortly after.
Firefighters had to use a metal saw to cut through the security grates covering the glass windows of the brick building. The fire went to three alarms because fire officials were concerned about of how close the church was to adjoining buildings next to and behind it.
Bergeron said the blaze was under control in 45 minutes and firefighters were on the scene until 5 a.m. yesterday.
The cause was under investigation, he said. The church and thrift shop were in two separate rooms in the same building. Bergerson said the fire started on the church.
Carmen Galarza, who lives two doors down, called 911 when she woke up to the smell of smoke. All 15 people in the building were evacuated.
"My worse fear was that my house was going to burn too," said Galarza. "I feel so bad because she (Torres) works so hard and does so much."
Torres, 68, started the church 23 years ago and had been at the location for 17 years. In addition to holding services Tuesdays, Thursday and Sundays, she donated clothing and household goods to the needy locally, in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
Church member Aristides Vasquez stopped by the fire scene to take pictures.
"My heart sank when I heard about it. I feel horrible," he said.
Vasquez joined the church just three months ago and said it was helping him with his drug rehab.
Torres cried as she looked through the charred remains, pointing to where the altar was located, and the guitars and drums musicians use during worship. She wiped her eyes when she saw the blackened guitar resting near a wall. She got it for a member who does prison ministry.
She shook her head as she looked through bags filled with clothing and other items.
She lamented all the work she put into the church including using the inheritance her grandmother gave her to build the 25 pews in the church. Two of Torres' grandsons and their friend pushed clothing, toys, and household items scattered on the sidewalk back inside the church. The young men used their hands and a shovel to push the clothing through one of the large windows. Meanwhile, Torres sighed when she saw them throw in a hand-knit baby blanket and a wedding veil covered in soot.
Torres said the fire has not shaken her faith.
"My faith is strong and I remain positive. As long as we don't lose sight of God, all we have to do now is move forward. Our focus now is finding a new home as soon as possible."
