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'I'm grateful': Crews extinguish fire on historic church bell tower; minimal damage reported

Viewer video sent in Thursday evening shows a small fire near the 150-year-old bell tower of Third Reformed Church.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Rapids firefighters responded to multiple calls of structure fires around the city Thursday night, including at the historic Third Reformed Church.

The fires broke out as severe weather rolled across the region, bringing an EF-1 tornado, 110 mph winds and heavy rain to Kent County.

Viewer video sent in Thursday evening shows a small fire near the 150-year-old bell tower of Third Reformed Church.

Authorities confirmed a lightning strike started the fire on the bell tower.

The church is currently under renovations and is being transformed into an arts and entertainment community center. Project manager Carol Moore says the fire was mostly contained to the top of the church.

"The fire department, I think, did a splendid job," she said. "I just recently walked through the building and I think that the damage is confined to the exterior on the north and the west sides of the steeple. So it could be a lot worse, and apparently there are lots of houses that are totally in flames tonight, so I'm grateful that this one was not as bad as it could've been."

Fires were also reported in the 200 block of Spencer Street NE and the 1600 block of Francis Avenue SE. The Kent County Sheriff's Office said they received a record number of calls Thursday.

13 ON YOUR SIDE is working to learn more information about the other fires in the area.

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