A Northeast Portland Baptist church was destroyed by a four-alarm fire early Tuesday morning.

KGW photo

The huge fire lit up the night sky.

The Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church was three stories and took up half a city block. Firefighters said the church was fully involved and flames were shooting high into the air when they arrived to battle the blaze around midnight.

More than 100 firefighters responded and they had the fire control by 1 a.m. The church is located at 106 NE Ivy Street.

Investigators believe the fire started on the main floor.

The roofs of two nearby homes also caught on fire, due to flying embers from the church fire. Firefighters scrambled to douse those flames, too.

Some 9-1-1 callers told dispatchers they heard an explosion that "shook the house." Firefighters had the main body of fire knocked down in the church by 1 a-m.

RAW VIDEO: Huge flames | Firefighters battle blaze

The annex building next to the church suffered heavy damage but firefighters were able to save most of the structure.

Witnesses said embers and ash could be seen two blocks away and thick, black smoke spread across about six city blocks.

In a statement Mayor Tom Potter said "I was saddened to hear about the recent fire that devastated the Morning Star Baptist Church.  The church has been a hallmark of the northeast Portland community for the past several decades and has impacted many Portland lives. The loss of this historic and special building has affected us all as a community, yet I have faith that the church lives on and will continue to flourish for decades to come."

No injuries were reported.