Fire Forces Evacuation at Portsmouth Church

(Portsmouth, NH) - 44 people have been evacuated from the historic 1827 United Methodist Church on Miller Avenue in Portsmouth.

Firefighters found heavy smoke emanating from the building, causing the evacuation.  At the scene, crews removed the front door after venting smoke.

They are also checking for any spread of a fire that apparently began in a wall of the building.

The people inside were playing a card game when they were safely evacuated.   A health inspector has joined fire crews from  Portsmouth and Kittery at the scene.