Firefighters investigate fire at Baymeadows church

Jacksonville Fire-Rescue: Eectrical short may have started flames

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – All lanes of Baymeadows Road at the intersection of Craven Road are open following an early-morning church fire.

The wife and three children of a missionary who were staying Baymeadows Baptist Church at 4826 Baymeadows Road got out safely.

"As soon as I heard there was a fire I threw my clothes on and got here in about two minutes," said Pastor Garry Broward. "I knew that the missionary's wife and children were in there but they were already out by the time I got here. I was just so thankful. It could have been a disaster."

Tom Francis with Jacksonville Fire and Rescue said an electrical short may have started the fire, which firefighters had it under control in just a few minutes.

Broward said the air conditioner sits just above the room where the fire started, and the heat strips inside the unit could have overheated.

"As far as fire damage, there's not a lot of fire damage," Broaward said. "There's water and smoke. It's pretty well contained to the one room."

A preschool operated by the church was not affected by the fire and the church said it has insurance.

The eastbound lanes of Baymeadows were closed for about 30 minutes while JFRD worked to put out the fire.