By Clyde Noel

Photo by Joe Hu, Town Crier

Town Crier Correspondent

Fire broke out about 4:45 a.m. Sunday morning at the Antiochian Orthodox Church of the Redeemer, 380 Magdalena Ave., in Los Altos Hills.

A motorist on his way to work saw the flames and notified 911. The Santa Clara County Fire Department called a second alarm. Because of the close proximity to homes, a third alarm was called, bringing 16 fire engines and 100 firemen to the scene.

Rick and Gail Irvine’s house is 30 feet away from the back of the church. After seeing red embers in his back yard, Rick started his sprinklers, including one he installed to keep his shake roof wet.

By 5:30 a.m., people began to assemble from the neighborhood and stood in awe of what was happening to the church. Most were silently watching the conflagration.

By 6 a.m., members of the 175-family congregation began arriving, many teary-eyed and astonished at the shell of their church with smoke still billowing from the remains.

Father Samer Youssef, while looking at the building, made preparations for the morning service. Church officials held their Sunday service at St. Stephen Antiochian Orthodox Church in Cupertino later that morning.

The church was built in 1985 after an extensive fund-raising effort.