Skip to content
NOWCAST WLKY News at Noon
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

Church in St. Denis severely damaged by fire; cause under investigation

Church in St. Denis severely damaged by fire; cause under investigation
CHANCE, PLUS THE COLD WEATHER FOR YOUR WEEKEND AND THAT SEVEN DAY FORECAST. THANKS, ERIC. OTHER CHURCHES ARE STEPPING UP TO HELP AFTER FIRE TORE THROUGH A CHURCH IN THE SAINT DENIS NEIGHBORHOOD. THE FIRE STARTED JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT AT HIGHLAND PARK MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH ON SHANKS LANE, HEAVILY DAMAGING THE BUILDING. WLKY DEANDRIA TURNER JOINS US LIVE FROM THE CHURCH. AND, ANDREA, YOU SPOKE WITH THE PASTOR, RIGHT? I DID RICK, AND HE IS REALLY HEARTBROKEN TONIGHT BECAUSE HE HAS SPENT THE LAST 24 YEARS IN THIS PLACE PREACHING TO HIS CONGREGATION AND ALSO TO THE COMMUNITY AROUND HIM. BUT HE SAYS THAT ONE THING THAT’S GOING TO KEEP HIM STEADY TONIGHT IS HIS FAITH. JUST FLOODED WITH MEMORIES BEFORE SUNRISE THURSDAY, FLAMES AND FREEZING TEMPERATURES COLLIDED AS FIRE CREWS BATTLED THIS BLAZE IN THE SAINT DENIS NEIGHBORHOOD. WATER TURNED TO ICE COATING THE GROUND AND WHAT REMAINED OF HIGHLAND PARK MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, A BUILDING FILLED WITH HISTORY NOW DAMAGED BEYOND RECOGNITION. I WAS AT CHURCH. I WAS RAISED IN, AND HE’S BEEN ITS PASTOR FOR 24 YEARS. THURSDAY MORNING, REVEREND BYRON COX STOOD OUTSIDE OF WHAT’S LEFT DEVASTATED. EMOTIONAL. A LOT OF MEMORIES HERE. DEFINITELY. IT WAS AN EVENT THAT CAUGHT US OFF GUARD. UNEXPECTED. INVESTIGATORS ARE STILL WORKING TO DETERMINE HOW THIS FIRE STARTED. BUT REVEREND COX DOES KNOW. IS THIS CHURCH MEANT MORE THAN SUNDAY SERVICES? WE ARE JUST RECOVERY PROGRAM. CELEBRATE RECOVERY PROGRAM BECAUSE WE ALWAYS BEEN DOING OUR FOOD PANTRY, FOOD OUTREACH AND CLOTHES OUTREACH. A NEW CHAPTER OF OUTREACH NOW ON HOLD. BUT AS THE SUN CAME UP, SUPPORT ARRIVED. ANOTHER LOUISVILLE PASTOR STEPPING IN AND OFFERING HELP. WE WANT TO ACTUALLY OFFER UP A FINANCIAL AID OFFER. IT’S THE FIRST THING WE WANT TO OFFER TO THEM. ALSO, WE WANT TO OFFER UP OUR BUILDING. THEY WANT TO HAVE WORSHIP AT MOUNT LEBANON. THEY’RE MORE THAN OPEN TO DO THAT, BUT ALSO OFFER UP SOME COUNSELING, GRIEF COUNSELING. THEY MAY NEED THAT. AND HE’S CALLING ON OTHER CHURCHES ACROSS LOUISVILLE TO DO THE SAME. SO I AM PRAYING THAT THE CHURCHES OF LOUISVILLE WILL COLLECTIVELY START TO SUCCEED FINANCIALLY. OFFER THEM A PLACE TO WORSHIP. ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS MOMENT. BUT EVEN AS THE BUILDING STANDS DAMAGED, THE CHURCH, ITS LEADERS SAY, STILL STANDS. THE PEOPLE WE STILL WE ARE THE CHURCH. AND AGAIN, THE CAUSE OF THIS FIRE IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. THERE WAS A FIREFIGHTER WHO WAS HURT ON SCENE. HE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND RELEASED SOME TIME LATER. HE IS OKAY. THEY DID SAY THAT IT WAS AN INCIDENT CAUSED BY SOME OF THIS ICE AND SNOW HERE. IT IS PRETTY ICY HERE RIGHT NOW, BUT LIKE I SAID, THE CHURCH, THEY SAID THEY’RE GOING TO REBUILD AND THEY’RE JUST REALLY RELYING ON THEIR FAITH TO GET THEM THROU
WLKY logo
Updated: 5:18 PM EST Jan 29, 2026
Editorial Standards
Advertisement
Church in St. Denis severely damaged by fire; cause under investigation
WLKY logo
Updated: 5:18 PM EST Jan 29, 2026
Editorial Standards
A church in St. Denis was severely damaged by an early morning fire on Thursday. Highland Park Missionary Baptist Church is on Shanks Lane, just west of Shively.WLKY crews on the scene say the damage to the church looks extensive.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In all, about six fire departments and 50 firefighters helped extinguish the flames. TARC was called to the scene to set up a bus as a warming station for firefighters.Officials say one LFD firefighter was minorly hurt unrelated to the fire. PRP fire said the firefighters fell related to weather conditions.They were checked out by paramedics at the scene and taken to the hospital. A salt truck was brought to the scene to help with water runoff that was turning into ice.Louisville Metro Arson is investigating a possible cause.

A church in St. Denis was severely damaged by an early morning fire on Thursday.

Highland Park Missionary Baptist Church is on Shanks Lane, just west of Shively.

Advertisement

WLKY crews on the scene say the damage to the church looks extensive.

In all, about six fire departments and 50 firefighters helped extinguish the flames.

TARC was called to the scene to set up a bus as a warming station for firefighters.

firefighters warming up on a tarc bus
PRP Fire

Officials say one LFD firefighter was minorly hurt unrelated to the fire. PRP fire said the firefighters fell related to weather conditions.

They were checked out by paramedics at the scene and taken to the hospital.

A salt truck was brought to the scene to help with water runoff that was turning into ice.

Louisville Metro Arson is investigating a possible cause.

Weather Information

FEELS LIKE
RADAR TRAFFIC
Sponsored by
X
Make WLKY a preferred source on Google