In a tragic turn of events, Simmonsville Missionary Baptist Church, Killeen’s oldest Black church, was engulfed in flames just days after celebrating its 75th anniversary. The fire broke out on September 15, leading to the complete destruction of the historic building.
The church’s leadership expressed their sorrow through a heartfelt message on social media, stating, “With hearts filled with sadness, we share the heartbreaking news that Simmonsville Missionary Baptist Church suffered a devastating fire today, just two days after we gathered together to celebrate 75 years of service, faith, love, and ministry.” They emphasized that the legacy of 75 years cannot be diminished by this incident, asserting, “We have a history. We have a testimony. We have memories. And most importantly, we still have God.” They urged the community to unite in faith during this challenging time.
The Killeen Fire Department responded promptly to the blaze, which was reported around noon in the 500 block of S. 42nd Street. Firefighters arrived to find flames rising from the church’s roof, which had spread from a nearby vegetation fire. The situation was brought under control by 12:45 p.m., with 33 personnel from the fire department on the scene. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported, but the building was deemed a total loss.
Investigators confirmed that the fire was accidental, tracing its origins to sparks generated by a heat-producing tool at a nearby salvage yard. Combustible materials present at the yard exacerbated the situation, allowing the fire to spread rapidly to the church.
In the wake of this disaster, a fundraising page has been established to assist the church in its recovery efforts. The Killeen Fire Department also urged residents to exercise caution when using spark-producing tools, particularly in proximity to flammable materials, and reminded the public to call 911 immediately in the event of a fire rather than attempting to extinguish it themselves.
