Lee County church destroyed in overnight fire

A church in Zoe is a total loss after a fire early Sunday morning.

Firefighters were up against not only the flames but dangerous road conditions and freezing temperatures as they responded to the fire at Zoe Church of Christ around 3:00 a.m.

Firefighters with the Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department say the fire trucks needed chains on the tires to get to the location, and below-freezing temperatures froze the lines up.

By the time they arrived at the church, they say flames were already shooting through the roof.

Multiple crews responded to the scene, including the Beattyville Volunteer Fire Department, the Lee County Volunteer Fire Department, the Bear Track Fire Department, and the Primrose Volunteer Fire Department.

A post to the Zoe Church of Christ Facebook page says the firefighters were on the scene for hours worked the fire in frigid conditions.

No injuries were reported.

Matthew Dixon is the church's preacher. He said the building was insured; he expects it will take six to eight months to rebuild.

"This has got us knocked down a little. We're down a little but we're certainly not out," he said.

In the meantime, the congregation will be looking for a temporary place to meet.

Dixon said he is grateful to the firefighters who spent hours in the cold trying to save their building, and also thankful that no one was hurt.

"The people are the church. This is a building and this can be replaced. The church are the people and we're in unity with one another and love one another and we - that's how you overcome things like this," Dixon said.