Firefighters battle large fire at church in south Springfield

Firefighters are battling a large fire at a church in south Springfield.

The fire started in the back of the Life 360 Church. That is located in the 3600 block of South Kansas Avenue behind the Hy-Vee.

The pastor tells KY3 News a prayer group smelled smoke from the back of the church. They then saw flames shooting out of the roof. Crews have been renovating that area of the church. The ladder truck knocked down the flames.

Everyone escaped the fire. Crews have that area blocked off to traffic.

The building is owned now by New Covenant Academy, which will move in once Life360 Church moves into the former Palace Theater that it purchased in Chesterfield Village. Life360 continues to use the church campus until it is able to move across Kansas Expressway.