BEECHER, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A famous, 156-year-old church in south suburban Beecher was destroyed by fire Sunday during an Oktoberfest celebration.
Firefighters were responding to a different call at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church around 1:30 p.m. Sunday, when they learned of a fire in the 156-year-old church. Some three dozen departments responded to the heavy smoke and fire – bringing water since the closest hydrant was about a mile away.
According to officials, crews used 91,000 gallons of water to put out the fire, but the building is a total loss.
Fire Chief Joseph Falaschetti said one firefighter was hospitalized for heat exhaustion and three others were treated at the scene.
Saint Paul's Lutheran Church was featured in the 2002 movie ‘Road to Perdition’ starring Paul Newman and Tom Hanks.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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