Damage from a fire at a church at the corner of Eighth and Vance streets Saturday should be repairable, the Roanoke Rapids Fire Department said.

A Shift responded to a structure fire call at Highway Restoration Ministries shortly before 1 p.m.

Fire was located in a downstairs HVAC room and originated in the fuse panel, Assistant Chief Bryan Hollowell said in a statement.

Firefighters disconnected electrical power to the building to ensure suppression operations could be conducted safely. Crews then extinguished the fire and performed extensive overhaul to check for any extension into surrounding walls and structural components. 

Smoke was removed using positive pressure ventilation.

Hollowell said the fire was brought under control quickly but the area sustained significant damage as a result of the fire and the necessary overhaul operations.

“Our crews made a rapid and coordinated attack to locate the seat of the fire and safely control the hazard by securing the power to the building,” Battalion Chief Tim Gray said. “Their quick actions prevented further extension and limited the overall impact to the structure.”