Flames destroy Baptist church in Atlanta suburb

Flames consumed the First Baptist Church Sugar Hill in an Atlanta suburb on Monday

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- A suburban Atlanta Baptist church that was being remodeled was destroyed by fire Monday evening.

The cause of the fire -- first reported at 5:30 p.m. -- at the First Baptist Church Sugar Hill was not known, said Pepper Thomas, a dispatcher with Gwinnett County Police and Fire.

No injuries have been reported, and no one was inside the church at the time, authorities said.

Flames roared through the church, reaching the steeple, which then toppled.

"We are fighting it defensively," said firefighter David Dusik, adding that no crews were inside the church. "So as soon as we get it under control, hopefully we can get in there and find out what caused it."

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Dusik said 10 units were on the scene.

The congregation had built a new church six blocks north of the site of the fire but was still meeting at the old location until the new building was completed. The first service at the new site was planned for March 4.

"It was still our preschool," said First Baptist member Darla Fain. "My daughter who's 4 -- that's her school. Tomorrow or Wednesday she won't have a school."

Fain said the church custodian notified authorities after seeing smoke coming from the downstairs preschool area, where the Korean church was doing extensive remodeling.

"They were really doing some nice work to the church," Fain said.

First Baptist Church Sugar Hill, Georgia

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