LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville Fire Department crews responded to a fire at a church on 37th and West Broadway shortly before 7 a.m. Sunday morning.

The department said the fire was controlled as of about 8:30 a.m. It took roughly 90 minutes to get the fire under control.

Thick, dark smoke could be seen coming out of the roof at New Jerusalem Apostolic Church after the fire. More than 50 firefighters and at least five fire engines were on the scene. Firefighters sprayed down all sides of the church to put out the flames.

LFD said extra firefighters and additional equipment were called to the scene to battle the blaze. 

"Crews got on scene within five minutes," Capt. Donovan Sims with Louisville Fire Department said. "When they showed up, there was heavy fire on the right side of this structure here."

"Within 10 minutes of being on scene, all companies were pulled outside due to the deteriorating conditions inside and the fire growth," Sims said. "We went to defensive operations."

Several neighbors gathered to watch the efforts.

Willie Clark lives near the church.

"It's a disaster. Who would do something like this? It's been an abandoned building," Clark said. "It's an eyesore to me. I haven't seen anything, haven't seen any type of movement or anything."

A Louisville Fire official also told WDRB, it appears this church isn't active. 

LFD said no injuries were reported.

The LFD Arson Unit will investigate how the fire started, which is standard procedure. Louisville Fire says it'll continue to monitor the building for any hot spots.

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