Investigation under way into 10 Texas church blazes

[joeblow]

Investigation under way into 10 Texas church blazes
Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:10:36 GMT

http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=1 ... id=3510203



Officials in Tyler, Texas have launched an arson investigation to determine how at least ten churches and houses of worship caught fire.

"We would just like to find out why this is going on and please stop it," Smith County Fire Marshal Jim Seaton said.

Two fires were reported within an hour of each other Monday night at churches about three miles apart in a rural area northwest of Tyler, about 85 miles southeast of Dallas. Evidence of a break-in was found in at least one church, said Assistant Fire Marshal Connie McCoy-Wasson.

Investigators announced earlier on Monday that a blaze on Thursday at a church in Wills Point, about 50 miles east of Dallas, was arson. That brought to seven the number of church fires in east Texas since January 1 that have been ruled arson.

In central Texas, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents concluded arson caused a fire last month that destroyed the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church in Temple.

No injuries were reported in the blazes Monday night at Dover Baptist Church and Clear Spring Missionary Baptist Church.

"I can't comprehend how anyone would do the Lord's house this way," Dover Pastor Carl Samples said.

Clear Spring Pastor Brandon Owens vowed that Sunday services would continue.

"We've just got to do what the Lord instilled us to do," Owens said Monday night as he surveyed the damage at his church.

McCoy-Wasson, who was first on the scene at Clear Spring Missionary Baptist Church, described the fire coming out of its roof.

The back door of the church was found broken, she said.

Dover Baptist recently took precautions because of the spate of church fires, trustee Albert Valadez said.

The staff barred the church doors and installed "dummy" inoperable video cameras above the main doors, the Tyler Morning Telegram reported on Tuesday.

VA/HGL