Local News
8:45 a.m. Tuesday- 2 more churches burn in east Texas; nobody hurt
TYLER, Texas (AP) — An arson investigation involving at least eight churches expanded Tuesday as two more houses of worship went up in flames in east Texas.
"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 Monday that a blaze 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 Jan. 1 that have been ruled arson.
In central Texas, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firrearms 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 the 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 fire coming out of its roof. The back door of the church was found broken, she said.
Dover Baptist recently took precautions because of so many 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 Tuesday.
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