Steeple at century-old East Side church collapses in blaze

The steeple of a century-old church collapsed Saturday morning during an extra-alarm blaze in the East Side neighborhood on the Far South Side, fire officials said.

The blaze broke out at about 4 a.m. at Advocate United Church of Christ, a 3 1/2 story church with a truss roof at 10259 S. Avenue L. A 2-11 alarm was initially called but later upgraded to a 3-11 alarm when a steeple on the side of the structure fell, fire officials said.

About 100 firefighters attacked the blaze and CTA warming buses were called to the scene when officials requested the evacuation of residents from adjacent homes, officials said.

The extra-alarm was struck down shortly before 8 a.m.

No injuries were reported at the scene, and the cause of the blaze was under investigation.

The historic building was…