ATHENS (January 13, 2010)--Officials in east Texas say arson is suspected in fires that broke out in five church fires since the first of the year.
Three of the churches were in one town and two others broke out one night this week in Athens, whose fire chief says multiple ignition points were found in both cases.
Arson also is suspected in a fire that gutted a church in the same town last week.
Fires also destroyed a church in Canton and struck a fifth church within 25 miles of Athens.
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Texas Fire Marshal’s Office are helping with the investigation.
