Mass. church fire forces parade cancellation

MIDDLEBOROUGH, Mass.—An intense, four-alarm fire damaged a 161-year-old church in Middleborough and forced the town to cancel its Memorial Day parade.

The morning parade Monday was supposed to march past the Central Congregational Church before a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial across the street. But firefighters were just getting the roaring blaze under control at mid-morning.

The fire was called in at about 6:30 a.m. and firefighters from 11 towns eventually responded.

Fire Chief Lance Benjamino said the fire began in a back kitchen and traveled into the steeple. Officials said the church’s interior was a total loss, but some religious items might be salvageable.

Officials were still investigating the cause.

The church’s pastor, the Rev. Bruce Smith, vowed the church would rebuild.