Fire Destroys Historic St. Landry Parish Church

WASHINGTON, La. (AP) — A fire has destroyed historic Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Landry Parish.No injuries were reported. St. Landry Parish District 3 Fire Chief Nick Vidrine told The Advertiser the department was notified about the fire at about 9:43 a.m. Friday. Also responding were fire departments from Opelousas, Leonville and Ville Platte as well as the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office and the Washington Police Department. Vidrine says the cause of the fire is still under investigation but the structure's heating system is suspected. The newspaper says the church was the oldest in the parish and the Diocese of Lafayette. The current structure was built in 1836, and the church was established in 1756.