Church fire ruled an arson

LUMBERTON, TX Police Chief Danny Sullins told KFDM-TV in Beaumont that federal agents and the Lumberton fire marshal made the ruling Friday.

The blaze on Wednesday heavily damaged Fletcher Emanuel Church Alive and destroyed church records. Sullins said it appeared a burglary occured in the office area.

The congregation was founded in 1910 and had been in the same building since 1980.

Lumberton is about 100 miles northeast of Houston.

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