String of TX church arsons worry congregations
WILLS POINT, TX
Authorities determined seven of those fires were intentionally
set and they are investigating one that broke out Thursday as a
possible arson. There have been no reported injuries or arrests,
and federal officials aren't saying whether there's a connection.
Most people in these parts can't help but think they are.
"I think everybody is expecting more of these, to tell you the
truth," said pastor David Mahfood, whose Baptist church in Tyler
was destroyed in a Jan. 16 fire. "I think the worst is probably
behind Tyler, but I'd worry about other cities."
Six of the seven arsons were just nine days apart, sending many
congregations in east Texas scurrying to install security systems
and prompting volunteers to keep close eyes on church properties
from dusk to dawn. Federal and local authorities have released
scant details and say they need more information.
"These things are painstakingly slow because a lot of evidence
is lost in fire scenes," said Tom Crowley, a Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives spokesman. "They're still working
it, but we could use more leads."
The fires have struck a region where Christian stations fill the
radio dial and an area newspaper runs a Bible verse on the front
page every day. All seven churches varied in size and denomination.
Some were Baptist. One was a red-bricked Christian Scientist's
church nestled among stately homes. Another was a nondenominational
church on the outskirts of town.
"The shock of it, it's so outside the norm," said Lloyd
McCaskill, pastor of a church in Tyler that has given Mahfood's
congregation a temporary home. "To try to get into the mindset,
why would someone want to do this?"
Athens was the site of the first arson Jan. 1, and two more
churches burned 10 days later in that town of about 12,000. After
that, blazes blackened two churches about 35 miles away in Tyler.
Days later, a church in Temple went up in flames, followed by one
in Lindale, just north of Tyler. Thursday's fire was less than 50
miles away in Wills Point.
Two earlier fires at churches in the area came under suspicion,
but authorities haven't determined whether arson was the cause.
Police have increased patrols near churches. In Tyler, a city of
nearly 100,000 about 100 miles from Dallas, authorities also are
sending fire trucks on burglary calls. Tyler fire Chief Neal
Franklin would only say it was a precautionary move.
Some residents have moved swiftly to protect their churches.
Lloyd Young, who owns a small security alarm company in Tyler,
has been updating churches' existing systems or loaning them what
little extra equipment he has. He said he's helped about a dozen.
Young also was among those who stayed overnight at his church.
"The general feeling is it's too fresh to just let our guard
down," Young said.
Standing in front of the charred rubble of his church, Mahfood
said he considers the fires to be a hate crime.
"I don't really think you can look at this devastation and not
realize this has hate as its impetus," he said. "We have probably
experienced every emotion possible."
Mahfood said he plans to rebuild his church. Some congregations
are still figuring out what to do.
"The church is pretty strongly sewn in with the community
here," Mahfood said. "If you're not a churchgoer, you're related
to somebody who is. So everybody is affected."