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February 9, 2010

Arsonist strikes again

Two more churches burn in East Texas; ATF reward now $25,000 for information

By Rich Flowers News Editor The Athens Review

Athens — East Texas law enforcement personnel are pressing on in their efforts to find out who is responsible for a string of fires in the area.

Monday night, investigators were hit with the news that despite their efforts, two more churches had been torched. The blazes were at the Dover Baptist Church and Clear Spring Missionary Church in rural Smith County, northwest of Tyler. The Smith fires were close enough to the northeast edge of Henderson County that local entities were put on alert.

“We didn’t do anything that we hadn’t been doing. We just intensified it,” Henderson County Sheriff Ray Nutt said.

Nutt said HCSO deputies have maintained a regular check on county churches since arsonists hit three in the Athens area in January.

The department picked up the pace on its checks Monday. They also kept a watch in case the Smith county arsonists decided to cross into Henderson County. Nutt thinks by keeping a consistent watch on county churches in which they might catch the arsonist at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Shortly after the fires were reported Monday, Henderson County 9-1-1 paged out the Chandler Fire Department to help the beleaguered Smith County departments, who were fighting two simultaneous blazes. The situation was similar to the one in Athens on Jan. 11 and Jan. 12, when fire alarms went off at Grace Community Church and Lake Athens Baptist Church within a 2-hour span.

U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives officials have released little information concerning evidence gathered at the fires that have damaged or destroyed nine houses of worship in the area this year. A fire in Temple is also considered arson.

Clay Alexander who heads the ATF Tyler office said the fires were likely the work of a serial arsonist or group of arsonists.

ATF is now offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the fires.

ATF determined arson caused fires at:

• Faith Church of Athens;

• Grace Community Church of Athens;

• Lake Athens Baptist Church, in Athens;

• Tyland Baptist Church, in Tyler;

• The First Church of Christ Scientist, in Tyler; and

• The Fellowship of Prairie Creek Church, in Lindale. 

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