McKinney fire crews arrived to find fire at the rear of the New Outreach Church of God in Christ building, which is located at 506 Wilcox St.
A nearby residential structure also caught fire, and a resident was evacuated safely from that home. Nearby homes were also evacuated as a precaution, according to a news release from the fire department.
While firefighters were working, another fire was reported on the next street over at the Chicken Express located at 411 S. McDonald St.
Firefighters from the surrounding cities of Anna, Melissa, Plano, Fairview, Princeton, Frisco, Lowry Crossing, Weston and Allen came to help McKinney firefighters.
All three structures caught in the blazes are a total loss and have been destroyed, the news release stated.
The employees at the Chicken Express have been moved to two other locations, the store owner said in an email. He said it was unclear when the McDonald Street location would reopen.
An investigation is ongoing to determine where and how the fires started and if they are connected. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has been called in to assist with the investigation, according to the news release.
“This was a very intense fire that took a huge number of resources and hours of hard work to extinguish,” McKinney Fire Chief Danny Kistner said in the release. “As always, the most important thing is the safety of the residents and our firefighters.”
Editor's note: This article has been updated with additional information.
