Historic Forestville church sustains heavy fire damage

The Forestville Fire Protection District responded to a fire at the Forestville Church of Christ in west Sonoma County Monday morning.

Fire Chief David Franceschi said the church that was built in 1879 was 50 percent covered in fire when firefighters arrived around 6:15 a.m. The inside of the church sustained heavy heat and fire damage, Franceschi said.

Firefighters from the Graton Fire Protection District, Russian River Firefighters Association, Sebastopol Fire Department and Cal Fire also responded to the fire, which was reported around 6 a.m. at 6545 Covey Road.

Because the fire involved a church, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was notified, Franceschi said.

Fire investigators were still at the scene early Monday afternoon, Franceschi said.