A lightning strike at about 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 6 started a fire at Zion Lutheran Church in Finland. Despite the rapid and aggressive response of six North Shore fire departments, the church was a complete loss.
A page went out to the Finland and Silver Bay fire departments at approximately 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 6, 2013—Zion Lutheran Church on Highway 1 in Finland had been struck by lightning and was ablaze.
Reached by phone a few days after the fire, Finland Fire Chief Peter Walsh said his department was on the scene within 10 minutes of the initial strike, which had been reported by a homeowner next to the church. The homeowners heard—and felt—the lightning strike and at first believed that their home had been struck. When they went outside to survey the damage, flames were spotted at the church.
En route to the fire, Walsh called for reinforcements, requesting help from the Two Harbors Fire Department. Before the fire was out, the Schroeder, Tofte and Lutsen fire departments were called to assist as well. Fire Chief Walsh said the Finland Fire Department was also greatly assisted by Van House Construction, which arrived, unasked, with a water tanker truck.
Firefighters battled the fire for hours. The Finland Fire Department remained on the scene long after all the other departments had been released. Walsh said the last truck left the site about 10 a.m.
Despite the rapid and aggressive response, the church was a total loss, which Walsh said, “is a terrible loss to the entire community.”
However, Walsh said, the firefighting efforts kept the fire contained. The church parsonage, which sits about 10 feet from the church was saved. “It will need some siding work, but it can still be used,” said Walsh.
Despite the loss of the church building, the Zion Lutheran congregation still gathered. They met Sunday morning at the Clair Nelson Community Center. Some of the people fighting the fire were released to go clean up so they did not miss that service, said Walsh.
Fortunately no one was injured, said Walsh and all of the firefighters on the fire made it home safely. “There were no injuries—not even a Band-Aid,” said Walsh, expressing gratitude to all of the emergency responders from the North Shore who assisted.
The church building dates to 1957. The pastor for Zion Lutheran is Reverend Tom Murray of Grand Marais, who serves both Zion and Lutsen Lutheran Churches. Murray said the church did have insurance and will rebuild. There is now discussion of probably building a smaller sanctuary and configuring the building differently to accommodate the many groups that use the church.
Reverend Murray lost some personal items—stoles he was given at his ordination—and he said it was sad to have lost the beautiful new altar clothes the church had just received. “It’s tough,” he said. “You’d like to say ‘it’s just a building,’ but it serves a connection to our faith.”
However, he said the important thing was that no one was hurt.
Murray also expressed gratitude to the outpouring of support, from other churches and the entire North Shore community. Sychar Lutheran Church has offered office space to use during reconstruction and financial donations have already been given. “We will get through this,” said Murray. “It will just take some time.”
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