A family’s quick-thinking dog is being hailed as a hero after her barking warned them of a raging fire engulfing a historic church just next door to their South Los Angeles home. In this article we talk about Dog Vigilance Protects Family During South LA Church Fire.
Dog’s Barks Alert Family to Crouch Memorial Church Blaze
According to NBC Los Angeles, in the early morning hours of Friday, the over 100-year-old Crouch Memorial Church of God and Christ in the 1000 block of East 27th Street became fully engulfed in flames. Nearby resident Richard Vaquero credits his dog Lola’s frantic barking for alerting his family to the dangerous blaze.
“She was barking out loudly, and she gave the signal to everybody like ‘Hey, wake up,'” Vaquero told reporters. After getting his family to safety, the heroic pet owner tried in vain to save their vehicles parked outside using a garden hose, suffering burns to his face and arms. Tragically, both of the family’s cars were destroyed.
No Injuries But Historic Church Heavily Damaged
While no residents were injured, the over century-old Crouch Memorial Church building sustained major damage in the fire. Firefighters reported a partial collapse of the structure as they battled the intense flames.
The cause of the destructive blaze remains under investigation, but the church has previously been threatened by fire. In 2013, an attic fire sparked by a wall heater forced the congregation to make repairs.
Historic Architectural Gem of South LA
The Crouch Memorial Church building was designed by acclaimed architect John C. Austin, who created iconic Los Angeles landmarks like the Griffith Observatory, City Hall, and the Shrine Auditorium.
Completed in 1905, the church served as a center for the prohibition movement in LA during its early years. Its striking Renaissance Revival architecture made it a true neighborhood gem.
After the original congregation relocated in the 1920s, the church property passed through the hands of various owners before Bishop Samuel Crouch took it over for his Church of God in Christ denomination around 1950. Plans were in the works to restore the aging structure. I sincerely hope you find this “Dog Vigilance Protects Family During South LA Church Fire-What Really Happened?” article helpful.