No injuries reported in Apex church fire

Apex fire crews responded to the church, at 100 S. Hughes St. in downtown Apex, about 1:30 a.m. after being alerted by the church's alarm system. 

The quick response time kept the fire from spreading through the church's Christian Life Center, a building detached from the main sanctuary, officials with the Apex Fire Department said. No injuries were reported.

Pastor Gray Southern said the church will operate normally Wednesday despite the damage. 

"We are a people of hope and this could have been so much worse," he said. "But we are able to go on and do our ministry and do our work, and the building can be repaired."

Fire investigators were on scene Wednesday morning trying to determine a cause of the fire, but they said it does not appear to be suspicious.