Immaculate Conception Catholic Church suffers fire damage, parishioners safely evacuated – Muleshoe Journal

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Muleshoe firefighters respond to a fire at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Sunday. The fire caused the evacuation of Sunday morning church services.
Gabby Perez / For the newspaper

At 8 a.m. on Sunday morning, worshipers at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church were unaware that the smell of smoke in the sanctuary was anything other than incense.

But Father Heriberto Mercado smelled and saw black smoke and flames above him at the start of the morning mass.

“We have a very courageous and heroic priest,” said Rosie Cabrera, president of the parish council.

At the time, Cabrera was in the community hall just behind the church, making breakfast after church with other matachines, a group that dances in honor of the feast days.

“I was outside the church. My family was inside though, ”Cabrera said. “Father Mercado smelled the smoke; he was the first to see smoke and flames. He calmly took them out without making them understand why they were leaving the church. Everyone came out safe and sound, that was the most important thing.

Cabrera estimates that there were at least 200 people in the church at the time.

“Once outside, they saw flames and smoke coming out of the corners of the roof, but no one was inside.”

The Muleshoe Fire Department received the call at 8:04 a.m. and arrived at the church at 805 E Hickory Ave. at 8:10 a.m.

“Everyone was out when we got there,” Muleshoe Fire Chief Tom Ladd said. “We were there for probably two and a half hours. The initial teardown window lasted 30 minutes. The rest of the time we cleaned up the smoke, checked everything and set up little hot spots. “

The fire department was assisted at the scene by the Muleshoe Police Department, Bailey County Sheriff’s Department, EMS and the Bovina Fire Department. The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage are currently under investigation by Fire Marshal Benny Parker.

Cabrera said the attic, chancel and stained glass image of the Immaculate Conception, the patroness of the church, were damaged at the front of the church.

The church had planned a series of events in honor of the feasts of the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe, including a procession to the church in honor of the saints.

Stacy Conner, pastor at First Baptist Church, invited members to come to First Baptist for evening mass.

“We held our procession down Main Street to First Baptist,” Cabrera said.

And the breakfast that had been prepared after Mass was not wasted.

“Victor Leal contacted us and offered us his restaurant. Several parishioners loaded all the food and brought it to Leal’s, ”Cabrera said. “We are grateful and grateful to feel the love of the community.”

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