Bailey firefighters help battle church blaze

The Bailey Fire Department’s ladder truck came in handy Thursday as firefighters from at least 11 volunteer departments converged on a rural Wilson County church that caught fire from a lightning strike.

Officials say lightning struck the steeple of Spring Hill Presbyterian Church at 7335 Springfield School Road west of Lucama. When the burning roof collapsed, Bailey firefighters sprayed the flames from above.

“They have the only ladder that’s in this area,” said Chief Walt Williamson of the Rock Ridge Volunteer Fire Department.

The church is in Rock Ridge’s fire district. Volunteer departments from Wilson, Nash and Johnston counties pooled their resources to battle the blaze.

“We had a very good response from the mutual aid departments and also our departments,” Williamson said. “We did have a little problem with water supply, and we got several departments that came out of Johnston County to help us with the water shuttle. We had to haul water from (N.C.) 42 to here.”

Williamson said a broken piece of equipment temporarily reduced the water pressure, making it difficult to pump from fire hydrants. While that complication was unexpected, he said the teamwork between agencies is par for the course.

“We run mutual aid with all these departments,” he said. “That’s any type of structure fire or outside fire — we’re running with at least two if not three departments. We work very well together.”

No one was inside Spring Hill Presbyterian Church when it caught fire, and no civilians or firefighters were injured in the response. The fire destroyed Spring Hill’s sanctuary. Church elders said the building is insured.

Established in 1948, the Bailey Fire Department has a roster of 45 members, two junior firefighters and a ladies’ auxiliary. From its 6336 Main St. headquarters station and Station 2 at 2509 W. Hornes Church Road, the department provides fire protection for the roughly 38-mile Green Hornet Fire District.

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