Historic vacant Toledo church destroyed in early-morning fire; steeple collapses, cause under investigation

TOLEDO, Ohio - A fire gutted the vacant former St. Agnes Catholic Church in the city's Five Points neighborhood on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, causing its steeple to collapse and leaving the 116-year-old building a total loss.

Toledo Fire and Rescue Department crews were dispatched around 6:30 a.m. after reports of heavy black smoke coming from the roof of the church on the 3000 block of Martha Avenue. Firefighters arrived to find the structure already heavily involved and declared a defensive attack because of collapse risk, fighting the blaze from the outside with ladder trucks and master streams while protecting nearby homes.

The steeple fell during the fire. Nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution. No injuries were reported. Martha Avenue was closed between Sylvania Avenue and Kane Street during the response.

The church opened in 1910 and closed in 2005 as part of a diocesan consolidation that affected 29 parishes. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Toledo no longer owns the property. Its former parochial school building next door is now occupied by the Ann Jerkins Harris Academy of Excellence charter school, which reported only minor smoke, water damage, and a cracked window.

Crews demolished the remaining structure Sunday. The neighboring school canceled classes Tuesday until a fence could be erected around the debris site. Superintendent Sonya Loggins said she was called to the scene Saturday morning and watched the building burn into the afternoon.

Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz called the loss devastating and described St. Agnes as one of the most beautiful churches in the city. The fire remains under investigation, with arson investigators collecting evidence. Officials have not released a cause.

Air quality monitoring in the area showed no unusual readings.