Tabernacle of Praise church in Muncie, Indiana burns while a firefighter jumps out of a broken window. .(Maria Strauss/The Star Press)

A major fire took command of the roof area at Tabernacle of Praise Church on the southside of Muncie, Indiana on Wednesday June 15, 2010. The fast moving fire caused significant the structural support of the roof system to collapse during fire suppression operations. This resulted in one firefighter becoming trapped with later reports indicating the firefighter died in the lin of duty.

The fire was reported around 3:55 p.m. The Muncie Fire Department was leading efforts to battle the blaze with help from surrounding volunteer departments, who are bringing water to the incident site on tanker trucks. The structure that collapsed and on fire was sanctuary. Published reports indicate that the church was hand built by church members. Radio dispatch indicated at 4:15 p.m. a firefighter was missing after the roof collapsed.

Dispatchers learned of the fire shortly before 4 p.m., and one reported the firefighter went missing after the roof collapsed about 15 minutes later, the newspaper reported.

Chris Bergin / The Star Press

LINKS

• The Indy Channel HERE
• Firefighter dies in Muncie church fire, PHOTOS HERE
• Video Clips, HERE