Church fire forces parade cancellation

MIDDLEBORO, Mass. - A fast-moving fire damaged a Middleboro church so badly that town officials were forced to cancel the Memorial Day parade.

The four-alarm blaze broke out at 6:45 a.m. at the 161-year-old Central Congregational Church on Webster Street.

The parade 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 midmorning. No one was injured.

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.