Fire damages New Hope Lutheran Church in N. Valley Stream

An electrical fire that investigators said started on the roof of a North Valley Stream church caused extensive damage to the building Wednesday night before it was put out by firefighters, officials said.

No one was injured in the blaze, which started about 6:30 p.m. at New Hope Lutheran Church, 60 Oliver Ave., authorities said. The church was unoccupied at the time.

According to detectives with the Nassau Arson Bomb Squad investigating the blaze, an employee of the church discovered heavy smoke shortly after opening the front doors.

At least 100 firefighters from the Valley Stream, Elmont, Floral Park, Malverne, Stewart Manor, West Hempstead and Franklin Square departments responded and found the roof on fire, officials said.

The church has been a presence in North Valley Stream since 1942 and move into its present location on Christmas Eve 1949, according to the church website. The church operates a daily preschool and an after-school program from 3 to 6 p.m. for children between kindergarten and sixth grade.

It was not known early Thursday whether the preschool and the after-school program would be disrupted by the fire.