NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
A south Nashville church suffered extensive damage after a fire ripped through the building Sunday afternoon.
The fire was reported at the Bell Road Church of the Nazarene located at 414 Bell Road just after 1 p.m.
Responding crews said upon their arrival flames were shooting from the building.
Firefighters were forced to attack the blaze from the outside after the church's roof collapsed.
No one was inside the church when the fire broke out.
"The church is the people and we can replace the building. We're just thankful that no one was in there, no one got hurt and if anything I believe this will bring us together," Pastor Bryan Russell said.
Russell added this is the second time in 30 years the church has been damaged by fire.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
