It was a close call for a Burnaby priest late Monday night.

He became trapped inside his church after a fire broke out and he was unable to put it out.

Fire crews received the call just before midnight at the Our Lady of Mercy Parish on 10 Avenue.

The priest, who lives inside the church, tried putting out the fire himself, but it had grown too large and he was forced to run out of the building.

More than 20 firefighters battled the two-alarm blaze and eventually knocked it down.

The assistant fire chief says the fire is suspicious.