The historic St. Michael’s Byzantine Rite Catholic Church, Shenandoah, was destroyed by fire early today in a fire that left at least 11 people homeless.

The famed church, known for its three great gold “onion” domes and founded in 1884, was left in ruins after the blaze in which the domes toppled down on top of seven cars that were parked in front of it. Three homes across the street were extensively damaged.

The heat was so intense two firetrucks in front of the structure had their paint damaged and houses across the street that were not damaged by the falling domes had their siding blackened by the intense heat.