Jesus statue fire damages estimated at $700,000
The Lawrence Bishop Music Theater at Solid Rock Church on Union Road endured smoke damage, according to officials. Damages to the King of Kings statue and the theater were estimated to be around $700,000, said Monroe Fire Chief Mark Neu.
No one was injured in the blaze.
The smell of smoke surrounded the area of the statue’s charred frame, and the pond in front of it appeared murky, witnesses said.
Keith Lewis of Middletown showed up at the church just after 7 a.m. with a camera in hand to take some shots of the remains. His wife, Stephanie, sent him.
“It has been a landmark in this area for a long time,” Lewis said. “She said she wanted picture of what was left.”
The church was not damaged, but audio equipment housed in the music theater was damaged, Neu said.
“They had a lot of expensive audio equipment that was lost,” he said.
Whether jostled by the incident, or ready to call out zingers, all agreed the statue is what makes that stretch of I-75 in front of the church special.
“It’s a landmark, so it’s going to make the drive different,” said Josh Bartram, 18, of Middletown.
Because the fire was sparked by lightning, Neu said there will be no further investigation.
