BUFORD, Ga. - Fire officials in Gwinnett County are investigating after a historic church in Downtown Buford went up in flames on Thanksgiving night.
The fire happened around 10 p.m. at the First Pentecostal Church of Buford on East Moreno Street.
Fire crews say they originally responded to reports of smoke coming from a vent hole at the top of the church's sanctuary.
While searching for the source of the smoke, officials say the "conditions rapidly changed" and the fire started to quickly spread.
The fire eventually grew to cover the roof of the sanctuary with heavy flames.
After hours of battling the blaze, crews were able to put out the fire, but it had destroyed the religious building.
Thankfully, authorities say everyone was able to evacuate the church and no one was hurt.
Officials say a church leader later told them that two members of the church spotted the smoke and tried to put out the fire without any success before calling 911.
Investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire, but did not suspect any criminal activity.