Fire at Century-Old Echo Park Church Sparks Arson Probe

A fire broke out Thursday in a closet of a century-old, boarded-up church in Echo Park, prompting an arson investigation.

The non-injury fire was reported at 6:57 a.m. Thursday at the two-story church at 1226 N. Alvarado St., at the corner of Reservoir Street, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Lyndsey Lantz.

The address is the location of the Echo Park United Methodist Church, whose congregation now worships elsewhere but regularly holds services in the Echo Park church’s parking lot, according to the congregation’s website.

Crews encountered light smoke coming from the front door of the church, Lantz said.

After 20 minutes of work by 44 firefighters, the blaze was out, Lantz said.

An arson investigation was requested, she said.