Two people sustained burn injuries in a church fire on Longview’s New West Side yesterday.

At 11:49 a.m., crews from Longview Fire and Cowlitz 2 Fire and Rescue responded to a reported fire at the two-story Trinity Lutheran Church on Washington Way. Firefighters found a large electrical panel burning in the basement and two individuals who had sustained serious burns.

Due to the nature of the electrical fire, it could not be extinguished until the power was isolated. The fire was held “in check” with dry chemical extinguishers until that happened. The Cowlitz PUD rushed to the scene and was able to secure power, which allowed firefighters to extinguish the fire before it spread to the rest of the building.

Longview Fire Battalion Chief Matt Amos said, “This fire was a good reminder to have trained individuals working on and around electrical systems.”

The two people who were burned were members of the church. One was transported to St. John Medical Center for evaluation, and the other declined to be taken by ambulance despite the injuries they sustained.