Even as fire tore through an Arnold church Saturday evening, sending flames through the roof and into the sky, dozens of cherished artifacts made it out safely.
The fire at Saint Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church on Kenneth Avenue was reported around 7:30 p.m., authorities said. Dozens of trucks from Arnold and surrounding neighborhoods responded to the 74-year-old church.
Thick smoke filled the block, and flames shot through the roof for more than an hour.
Firefighters were hampered by a metal roof that kept the flames in and water out, said Keith Dziobak, chief of Arnold Fire Company No. 2, and crews eventually resorted to trying to break through the fire-weakened roof with hoses from aerial trucks.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. No injuries were reported.
Firefighters were able to save a number of artifacts from inside the historic church, opened in 1947. The parish dates back to 1911, and the original church was on Third Avenue.
There are only about 35 congregants, some of whom came to the church after getting word of the fire. Among them was Mike Haracznak, a lifelong parishioner who was baptized in the church.
Statues of Jesus and the Virgin Mary that dated back to the original Third Avenue church were saved from the vestibule, along with the original pulpit from 1911.
Haracznak said the Rev. Yaroslav Koval began trying to rescue items while the church was still burning, and firefighters had to keep him from going back in.
“It’s just so sad,” Haracznak said.
As the flames died down, firefighters began bringing more and more artifacts from inside: the Book of Gospel, tall metal crosses from the Stations of the Cross, decades-old shrouds, and even the offerings collected at Saturday afternoon’s liturgy.
As more artifacts were brought out — some wet while others bone dry — Haracznak, fellow parishioner Joe Fedusa and others ferried them across the parking lot into the St. Vladimir social hall.
Around 10:30 p.m., a group of firefighters carried out the tabernacle, where Holy Communion is given.
Haracznak said Koval plans to hold Mass as scheduled Sunday morning in one of the congregation’s other buildings.
Crews on the scene at a fire at St. Vladimirs in Arnold. Some flames still visible pic.twitter.com/zODb5WBLbV
— Megan Guza (@meganguzaTrib) December 5, 2021
Probably nearing a dozen trucks here, including quite a few ladder trucks pic.twitter.com/uU7ALeoHBv
— Megan Guza (@meganguzaTrib) December 5, 2021
Bishop Larry J. Kulick of the Diocese of Greensburg said he was saddened to hear of the fire.
“I, along with all the clergy and faithful of the Diocese of Greensburg, offer our thoughts and prayers to the pastor, parishioners and faithful in the Eparchy,” he said. “As fellow brothers and sisters in faith, we stand ready to assist in any way possible.”
