POTTSTOWN, Pa. (WPVI) -- Firefighters are battling a five-alarm fire that broke out early Friday at a vacant church in Pottstown, Montgomery County, forcing evacuations of nearby homes.

It happened at the former Invictus Ministries building at North Hanover and Chestnut streets.

The initial call came in at 6:22 a.m., and crews arrived within three minutes because the firehouse is nearby.

Firefighters entered through a side door but were forced to retreat after only three minutes due to intense heat.

The blaze quickly escalated, drawing about 250 firefighters from three counties. The roof was intact when crews arrived but burned through and collapsed.

The Action Cam was there as the church's steeple collapsed around 12:15 p.m.

"We had to evacuate. It was definitely looking like there

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