4-alarm Fire Rips Through Church in Vineland, NJ

A fast-moving fire did extensive damage to a Vineland church Monday night.

The 4-alarm fire broke out at about 10:00 at Voice of Deliverance New Covenant Church on the 400 block of East Chestnut Avenue.

Firefighters were able to get the massive blaze under control by around midnight, but it did extensive damage to the church building and displaced residents living in a unit at the back of the property, according to CBS 3 Philadelphia.

It's still not known exactly how the fire started, but lightning strikes were plentiful Monday night in South Jersey.

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"They tried to knock it down and it just started traveling through the whole roof area and we went right away to a second alarm to get some more manpower, some more aerial devices, and then the fourth alarm would bring another aerial device," said Vineland Fire Chief Luigi Tramontana Jr.

The church was founded in 1978 and was planning to celebrate its 35th anniversary on Aug. 27, according to its website.

The church released the following statement:

Right now, we are trying to process the loss. Once we have more information as to the cause of the fire we will have more to say. God is Good and he always provides for his people. As of this moment, we don't have any information regarding upcoming services, but will be looking into alternatives tomorrow.