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CHICAGO -
Firefighters working in freezing temperatures fought an early morning blaze at Holy Name Cathedral, a landmark Chicago church and the seat of Cardinal Francis George. They put the blaze out after about 2 1/2 hours.
Jimmy Lago, chancellor of the archdiocese, called the damage "awful." "It's a tragedy just to see it," he said. "...My heart goes out to the parishioners and those who worship here."
The fire at Holy Name, located at 735 N. State St., was under control at 7:30 a.m. and declared out a half hour after that.
The five red, broad-brimmed cardinals' hats, or galeros, suspended from the ceiling, were soaked, Lago said. Each of those hats was raised to the ceiling on a cardinal's death.
Heavy water could be seen falling into the altar area of the church from the roof where the flames seemed to be concentrated. The cathedral's sprinkler system also activated
The fire may have been related to some renovation. Lago noted that work was being done on pillars in the cathedral and on some deteriorating wood high in the rafters. He said a worker was present at the time the fire broke out, but didn't know if he was working in the area where the fire started. (Earlier, Lago said no workers were present.)
Cardinal Francis George entered the church shortly after 8 a.m.
The fire started in an attic area in which major repairs were being made. The cathedral had been closed for six months to undergo major structural repairs and had only reopened at the end of August, church officials noted. The current work was being done on support beams.
The fire promised to bring considerable disruption to the parish and the cathedral. "We're back to Square One right now," said church pastor Rev. Dan Mayall.
Mayall said he was asleep in the rectory when he was awakened by a priest who heard a fire alarm go off. Mayall said everyone inside the rectory and school, which are separate buildings, was safe.
Larry Ligas, a parishioner at the church for 10 years, said his wife, Lisa, was "in tears" when the couple heard about the fire.
He said was talking about wedding plans with a friend last night, suggesting he get married at the cathedral.
"This just adds to the heartbreak, because we'd love to see our [10-year-old] son in the wedding" Ligas said in a telephone interview this morning. "It's a huge setback for all the parishioners for the Archdiocese. It's not just a Catholic church, it's part of Chicago."
Fire Cmdr. Will Knight said the fire was located in the cockloft, or pitched area of the roof.
Up to a dozen fire trucks were on the scene of the extra-alarm blaze at State and Superior Streets. Officials said no one was injured, although some priests and nuns were inside the cathedral at the time.
The fire broke out about 5:29 a.m., was upgraded to a second alarm about 10 minutes later and later to a third alarm. The blaze did not appear to have spread to the worship area. Several fire officials could be seen inside the church, talking in the pew area.
Firefighters used a chainsaw to cut down a tree on the property to give them better access.
The fire appeared to be still burning at 6:40 a.m. Smoke was billowing from a hole that appeared to be six feet across on the northeast side of the building.
Street closures were in effect from Chicago Avenue to Huron Street and Wabash Avenue to Dearborn St. CTA State Street buses were being rerouted.
Classes were canceled at the Holy Name and Old St. Patrick's campuses of Frances Xavier Warde School.
Holy Name is the seat of the Archdiocese of Chicago. After the fire of 1871 destroyed the former Holy Name Church, Bishop Thomas Foley resolved to build a spectacular replacement. Brooklyn architect Patrick Charles Keely designed the Gothic structure, and the cornerstone was laid on July 19, 1874.
The church building is 233 feet long, 126 feet wide and can seat 1,520 people. The ceiling is 70 feet high; the cathedral spire is 210 feet tall.
Jimmy Lago, chancellor of the archdiocese, called the damage "awful." "It's a tragedy just to see it," he said. "...My heart goes out to the parishioners and those who worship here."
The fire at Holy Name, located at 735 N. State St., was under control at 7:30 a.m. and declared out a half hour after that.
The five red, broad-brimmed cardinals' hats, or galeros, suspended from the ceiling, were soaked, Lago said. Each of those hats was raised to the ceiling on a cardinal's death.
Heavy water could be seen falling into the altar area of the church from the roof where the flames seemed to be concentrated. The cathedral's sprinkler system also activated
The fire may have been related to some renovation. Lago noted that work was being done on pillars in the cathedral and on some deteriorating wood high in the rafters. He said a worker was present at the time the fire broke out, but didn't know if he was working in the area where the fire started. (Earlier, Lago said no workers were present.)
Cardinal Francis George entered the church shortly after 8 a.m.
The fire started in an attic area in which major repairs were being made. The cathedral had been closed for six months to undergo major structural repairs and had only reopened at the end of August, church officials noted. The current work was being done on support beams.
The fire promised to bring considerable disruption to the parish and the cathedral. "We're back to Square One right now," said church pastor Rev. Dan Mayall.
Mayall said he was asleep in the rectory when he was awakened by a priest who heard a fire alarm go off. Mayall said everyone inside the rectory and school, which are separate buildings, was safe.
Larry Ligas, a parishioner at the church for 10 years, said his wife, Lisa, was "in tears" when the couple heard about the fire.
He said was talking about wedding plans with a friend last night, suggesting he get married at the cathedral.
"This just adds to the heartbreak, because we'd love to see our [10-year-old] son in the wedding" Ligas said in a telephone interview this morning. "It's a huge setback for all the parishioners for the Archdiocese. It's not just a Catholic church, it's part of Chicago."
Fire Cmdr. Will Knight said the fire was located in the cockloft, or pitched area of the roof.
Up to a dozen fire trucks were on the scene of the extra-alarm blaze at State and Superior Streets. Officials said no one was injured, although some priests and nuns were inside the cathedral at the time.
The fire broke out about 5:29 a.m., was upgraded to a second alarm about 10 minutes later and later to a third alarm. The blaze did not appear to have spread to the worship area. Several fire officials could be seen inside the church, talking in the pew area.
Firefighters used a chainsaw to cut down a tree on the property to give them better access.
The fire appeared to be still burning at 6:40 a.m. Smoke was billowing from a hole that appeared to be six feet across on the northeast side of the building.
Street closures were in effect from Chicago Avenue to Huron Street and Wabash Avenue to Dearborn St. CTA State Street buses were being rerouted.
Classes were canceled at the Holy Name and Old St. Patrick's campuses of Frances Xavier Warde School.
Holy Name is the seat of the Archdiocese of Chicago. After the fire of 1871 destroyed the former Holy Name Church, Bishop Thomas Foley resolved to build a spectacular replacement. Brooklyn architect Patrick Charles Keely designed the Gothic structure, and the cornerstone was laid on July 19, 1874.
The church building is 233 feet long, 126 feet wide and can seat 1,520 people. The ceiling is 70 feet high; the cathedral spire is 210 feet tall.
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