ORLANDO, Fla. -- Firefighters raced to extinguish the intense flames, as dark black smoke poured from an Orlando church, Friday morning.

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The minister and members of New Life Ministries could only watch as flames engulfed their house of prayer. The fire completely destroyed the back end of the church where the services were held.

Fire crews had about 22 firefighters on the scene when they realized that wasn't going to be enough to battle this large blaze. A second alarm was called out, and more help arrived a short time later.

As the flames shot through the roof, the smoke was so thick and dark that it blocked out the sun.

They think the fire may have started in the attic. That made it difficult for crews to get inside and stay inside.

It took one hour, and 40 firefighters from three different agencies to finally douse the flames.

Rolling Hills Elementary School, located just across the street, was placed in a modified lockdown. Children were kept inside to make sure they were safe.

Nobody was inside the church when it started, and nobody was hurt.

The focus now is on what little is left behind.

"All they can do is pray for it," said a witness, "it's gone that's all."

It's still too early to determine a cause of the fire.

Apparently, there was some recent work done on the air conditioning system. As a result, the state Fire Marshall is looking into a possible electrical cause.