Fire Damages Church - San Diego - Suspected Arsonist Arrested

From: Los Angeles Times

A 38-year-old man was arrested Sunday on suspicion of arson, burglary and committing a hate crime in an early-morning fire that did $250,000 damage to a church near El Cajon, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said

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Ashe Church Totaled in Sunday Arson Fire

From: Go Blue Ridge

Ashe investigators are now saying that the early Sunday morning fire that destroyed an Ashe church was arson, a fire set to cover a break-in and theft. The North Beaver Baptist Church was totally destroyed in the blaze, discovered by a passing deputy. The deputy found the church, at the Boggs Road intersection with NC 163, with smoke pouring from the eaves at about 1 Sunday morning, according to church member Conard Mash.

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My Thoughts: This article was brought to my attention by Humphrey Hayes, who is the director of security of Samaritan's Purse. What caught my attention about this article was the fact that the fire was set to cover up the break-in and theft. almost every week I can find a story related to a church fire. Within those fires it is extremely common to learn that the result was arson related. What is rare is to find an arson related fire that was set to cover the tracks of another crime. 

Police: Church Arsonist Calls Police and Confesses to Crime

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Members of an Independence congregation are looking for a temporary place to worship after police say that someone deliberately set fire to their church.

Read More: http://fox4kc.com/2012/06/22/man-charged-in-arson-at-independence-church/

Wisconsin Church Fire No Accident

From: Post Crescent 

{A fire at Klondike Community Church last month was not accidental, authorities said Tuesday.

The investigation is continuing, according to the State Fire Marshal's office and the Oconto County Sheriff's Department, which are seeking the public's help with the probe.

However, the agencies said they had one clue.

"Information has been received that shortly before the fire was reported, a small dark-colored vehicle was seen parked in the church parking lot," a statement issued by the agencies said.

"Initial investigative results indicate the fire was not accidental," the statement said.}

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Fires Set at GA Church by Contractor!

GARDENDALE, AL (WBRC) -  "Donny Ray Horton, of Georgia, has been sentenced to five years in prison for mail fraud and arson connected to two fires at a Gardendale church.

The fires happened last April.

According to court documents, Horton took a $78,000 deposit to install seating in the church and then twice set fires to delay installation because he never ordered the seats."

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Fire Ravages Historic Church

SOUTH LONDONDERRY, VT -- "No one was hurt as a raging inferno tore through the historic First Baptist Church of South Londonderry early Tuesday morning, firefighters said. 

The 70 foot steeple at the front of the church, an icon of the area for anyone driving along Route 100, is no more. 

At about 3 a.m., firefighters responded to a fire at 62 Crescent St., said Chief George Lang of the Champion Fire Station in South Londonderry. 

Lang said the damages to the church are in the ballpark of $1.5 million. He added that the cause of the fire is still undetermined, but it is not believed to be suscipious."

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