BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- A church under construction was destroyed Thursday in an early morning inferno that tore through the structure in Lamont, according to the Kern County Fire Department. Firefighters were dispatched to the 10000 block of Habecker Road fire just before 5 a.m. KCFD said the 10,000-square foot church building was fully engulfed with heavy smoke that could be seen as far away as Highway 58. Convicted escaped murderer Cesar Hernandez was ‘given a key or made a handcuff key’: Sheriff Youngblood KCFD attacked the fire by using one of its 100-foot ladders to spray it from above as the intense heat and flames threatened homes and large trees in the area. The roof and several walls of the would be church collapsed quickly under the flames. Investigators confirmed no one was inside the structure during the blaze and no injuries were reported. Between all the heavy debris, heavy equipment specialists were called out to break apart the rubble and extinguish the fire. The department is still investigating the cause of the massive fire.