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City officials outline recovery steps and investigation after Trinity United Methodist Church fire
Summary
City officials described site stabilization work at Trinity United Methodist Church, said the state fire marshal and insurance groups will conduct a joint scene examination, warned the public to stay behind barricades and reported the Broadway Fountain remains without power while utility repairs proceed.
City officials on a Madison City board meeting gave an update on the Trinity United Methodist Church fire, describing immediate safety steps, an upcoming joint investigation and the community response.
The presiding official said the church was reviewed at 7 a.m. the morning after the fire and that a structural engineering firm assessed the east wall to protect nearby public assets, including the Broadway Fountain. A crane has been mobilized to selectively remove portions of the building to stabilize the structure, officials said.
"We want to thank the Trinity Church community as well as Pastor Doug Walker for their collaboration," the presiding official said, and added that the stair tower and steeple tower were in good condition and would be stabilized with steel support.
Fire Chief Brandon Aers said the state fire marshal's office and the Madison Fire Department have turned their portion of the investigation over to the involved insurance parties. He said he expects a joint scene examination involving insurance investigators, private investigators and the state fire marshal to occur early next week, though a date was not yet set. "Once we get all of that together and talk about all the facts, we'll have a full press release as far as the investigation purpose goes," Aers said.
Aers and other officials emphasized public safety around the site. "All the barricades and tape are set up for public safety," Aers said, and he urged residents to stay out of taped-off areas, adding that people inside the church taking photos were "absolutely unacceptable." Officials said the Broadway Fountain currently lacks power due to damage to a main feeder line and that Duke Energy is coordinating repairs.
Officials credited multiple first responders and utility partners, including Duke Energy and CenterPoint, and thanked local businesses and volunteers for providing water and food to responders and displaced persons. An official noted that department gauges recorded about 1.2 million gallons of water used by 10 a.m. during firefighting efforts.
The board said the priority is stabilizing the site and reopening public assets when safe. City staff will coordinate with property owners, insurers and contractors on demolition permits and continued recovery work. The board did not provide a firm timeline for full restoration; officials said several months of work and mitigation in the affected block should be expected.
