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Arson Ruled Out In Church Fire
December 16, 2004
ROBBINS - The fire that caused substantial damage to the Black Creek-Crossroads Baptist Church last week was most likely an accident, Scott County Sheriff's Department Chief Detective Robby Carson said Monday.
The fire, which began in the late evening hours on Wednesday (Dec. 8), started in an outbuilding located several feeet from the church building and quickly spread to the church itself, burnign through the roof of the structure. Rumors surrounding the fire stated that the fire was started intentionally to cover up a burglary of several items from the storage building, but Carson dismissed those reports.
"I have spoken to several of the church members and they had play practice that night and they thought they probably left something turned on," he said. "I don't know where the rumor got started that it was arson, but the church members I talked to feel like it was an accident and they're ready to rebuild."
Carson also said that rumors that an investigator from the state fire marshall's office had determined the fire intentional were also false.
According to Johnny Tate, fire chief at the South Scott County Volunteer Fire Department, his department was notified of the fire at approximately 11:15 p.m. on Wednesday and dispatched three units to the scene.
The Huntsville Volunteer Fire Department later provided mutual aid, with three units providing extra water as well as entry teams to assist with battling the blaze from inside the structure, Fire Chief Dean King said.
Units from the Scott County Sheriff's Department also responded to the fire.
The fire reportedly began shortly after church members had vacated the building following a play practice that had been held after the evening's worship services. No church members were inside the building when the blaze began.
news@ihoneida.com
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