United States (Alabama) - A fall from a ladder injured a Falkville firefighter Friday morning while battling a church fire after a lightning strike. Falkville Fire Chief Chris Free said Monty Cody was about 8 feet up a ladder at First Faith Church of Falkville when he fell.

"We think the injuries are minor, but we sent him to Cullman Regional Medical Center to get a foot checked out because he was having a little swelling," the chief said.

Free said the hospital released him about 11:30 a.m. after X-rays.

"They put a brace on his foot and told him to stay off it for about two days," Free said.

Free said eight Falkville firefighters, backed by four firefighters from Ebenezer, responded to the church at 1153 Culver Road at 8 a.m. after lightning struck the bell tower and steeple.

"It knocked about a 4- to 6-inch hole in the roof line, and then struck the rafters," Free said. "It ignited the siding and insulation, which were on fire when we got there. The fire was at the front of the church, in the attic underneath the bell tower."

Pastor Chuck Smith, who arrived about 45 minutes later and spoke with Free, called the strike "a direct hit."

Lightning explodes

He said it appears the lighting exploded through the upper decking of the roof, traveled outward and blew out part of a metal vent in the front eave of the church.

"It caught the decking on fire and part of the insulation between the decking and the roof," Smith said. "It also blew off some of the roofing shingles, and blew off parts of the bell tower back to the fellowship hall, which is behind the church."

Smith said there is smoke damage throughout the church and water and other damage to the foyer.

"The strike blew out two huge panels of a mirrored ceiling onto the floor of the vestibule," he said.

Smith, a guidance counselor at the Morgan County Learning Center, said he was at work when his son Dustin called and told him he heard that the church was on fire.

"I was expecting the worst, but I was really pleased to see there wasn't as much damage as there could have been," the pastor said. "I was praying on the way that no one would be injured. The firefighters had the fire under control when I arrived."

He said he spoke to most of the firefighters, shook their hands and thanked them for their help and their rapid response in taking care of the situation.

Smith said Billy Bryan, church leader, arrived with the insurance adjuster.

"We're expecting that the damage will be taken care of," said Smith, who has been pastor for more than 11 years.

He said until repairs are completed, the church plans to meet across the road in the old Woodmen of the World building, which the town owns.

"On average, we have 35 to 40 each Sunday," Smith said. "Our church will seat around 100. Our record attendance since I've been there is 75."

Written by The Decatur Daily