Aurora church may be demolished following huge fire

WATCH: Global News chopper hovers over the scene of a working fire at the Aurora United Church.

TORONTO – A 19^th century church may have to be demolished after suffering extensive damage from a large blaze Friday afternoon.

The fire started on the roof of the Aurora United Church around 10:30 a.m. at the Yonge Street church near Mosely Street in Aurora.

York deputy fire chief Paul Leslie told Global News smoke could be seen billowing from the back of the building when crews arrived.

“When you consider the amount of damage to the building at this point, it’s really difficult to see what could be salvaged,” he said. “In all probability the building might have to come down.”

Fire crews were forced out of the building due to heavy smoke and flames inside the church.

The fire had been contained to the church roof but quickly spread throughout the building.  The roof collapse actually helped firefighters battle the blaze, Leslie said.

“It’s very, very difficult to get at the seat of the fire with the roof structure still in place,” Leslie told reporters Friday afternoon. “When the roof at the rear started to collapse, that exposed the inside and we were able to actually put it out rather quickly.”

Some surrounding buildings and homes had to be evacuated.

The fire marshal’s office is investigating but the cause of the fire is still unknown.  However, Leslie said, the roof was under construction and investigators will be looking at that as a potential source of the fire.

York Regional Police say Yonge Street is closed from Wellington to Mosely Street.

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