BREESE — A historic church built in 1855 by Catholic immigrants in Breese suffered minor damage after a fire Thursday night.

The fire at St. Dominic Church started at around 4:45 Thursday, and brought out firefighters from five different departments to assist the Breese Volunteer Fire Department in keeping the fire contained to the entrance of the church.

According to the Breese Fire Department, damage from the fire was isolated near the middle door of the church, but smoke did get into the sancturary..

Parishioners gathered together and boarded up the front of their church Thursday night and a fire-restoration company was called to handle the cleanup.

A short in the wiring next to a light fixture in the entryway is being blamed for the fire.

The church was refurbishing the doors as part of its 150th anniversary. The sanctuary was not damaged and there were no injuries.