Fire at Springfield church causes heavy damage

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) -- Authorities say a fire at an Episcopal church in Springfield caused an estimated $20,000 in structural damage and perhaps hundreds of thousands more in smoke damage.

The blaze at St. Peter's Episcopal Church was reported at about 5:30 p.m. Thursday by a neighbor who saw smoke coming from the building.

The pastor, the Rev. Dee Bright says he was in his office when another church official came in to alert him to the fire. There was a service under way in the chapel, which he immediately dismissed.

Everyone went outside and no one was hurt.

The fire started near the altar. It remains under investigation but is not considered suspicious.

Bright says the fire will cause some "financial hardship."