Trinity Church leaders to meet with building engineers following devastating fire

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – Leaders from Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Milwaukee will meet with building engineers on Friday to discuss the damage to the building’s structure following the May 15 fire.

“It would be great if we could have everything back but the reality is there’s going to be a lot of replacements,” Mission Executive for the South Wisconsin District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Rev. Jonah Burakowski said.

The historic church near W. Highland Ave. and N. 9th St. caught fire two weeks ago. The blaze caused around $17 million in damage.

The building was condemned shortly after the fire but engineers have been inside the church assessing the damage over the last week and a half.

“They’ve been in and out surveying walls, floors, checking gables, the roof,” Burakowski said.

On Thursday, the Milwaukee Fire Department said there was no definitive answer on the cause or origin of the fire. The blaze was first spotted on the roof where a crew was working. CBS 58 learned hot tools were also left on the roof.

Since the fire, the congregation has been worshipping at nearby MATC. Right now, leaders are trying to find a temporary location at another church until Trinity can reopen in 3-5 years.

“[We’re] trying to identify a location that will best suit both the church that is currently there and the congregation at that church and then the Trinity congregation as well.” Burakowski said.

Donations are being accepted to help the church rebuild.