Someone forgot to turn off the heating element of a baptismal pool and that led to a small fire Saturday morning at a Farrell church, firefighters said.

Terrence Crumby, a church deacon and city firefighter, said another church deacon at Greater Mount Zion Church of God in Christ, 1825 Roemer Blvd., was working in the church and smelled smoke.

He went upstairs to check where it was coming from, saw the fire and put it out with an extinguisher before calling the fire department, Crumby said.

"They caught it just in time. It was small. Had it been another 15 or 20 minutes it could have took the church out," he said.

"It was a real blessing. God's hand was upon us," he said.

Someone apparently left the heater switch on and the heater for the empty pool was knocked over, Chief Joseph Santell said.

He said the fire was an accident.

Firefighters responded at 10:42 a.m. Firefighter Eric Kozma, who was first on the scene, said although the fire was out by the time he arrived, there was plenty of smoke in the building.

Crumby said the church would be aired out in time for this morning's services and added that a cleaning company was hired to take care of the mess.

The church has a membership of 200 people under the leadership of Superintendent Wilbert G. Hadden, pastor and Evangelist Hazel M. Hadden, co-pastor.