Fire damages east-side church

A two-alarm fire last night extensively damaged an East Baltimore church and forced a family of three living next door to flee into the cold. No injury was reported.

The fire was reported shortly after 10 p.m. on the second floor of Greater Faith Tabernacle Church of Deliverance in the 2600 block of McElderry St. and quickly spread to the roof of the adjacent rowhouse, said Chief Kevin Cartwright, a city Fire Department spokesman.

Part of the roof of the storefront church collapsed, forcing firefighters out of the building, Cartwright said. The fire was declared under control at 11:11 p.m. The cause was under investigation.