3/5/25: Officials with the Elmira Fire Department say the investigation continues into the fire that destroyed the former First Baptist Church in Elmira almost three weeks ago.

As it stands, the cause of the fire has yet to be determined and EFD officials say the investigation is ongoing.

The first happened shortly after 10:00 P.M. on Thursday, February 13. Within minutes, the building was engulfed in flames leaving behind a shell of the church that had been standing since 1892.

Since then, the building has been demolished.

ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) -- The First Baptist Church was completely removed by demo crews as of Monday, Feb. 17th following a fire that destroyed much of the former church the week before. The fire happened on Thursday, February 13th, where a massive fire destroyed much of the church, leaving only some of the brick exterior. 

As a result the City declared the historic church a total loss, and demo work was slated to begin quickly. The church was originally built in the 1890's, but its last services were held in 2009. Chemung County property tax records show the building was sold in 2010.

The investigation into what started the fire remains ongoing.