10 Texas church fires under investigation

clipped from www.usatoday.com Pastor Carl Samples says his flock's faith hasn't wavered, even after their sanctuary was destroyed in the latest in a string of East Texas church fires that authorities say were deliberately set. "I think it's drawn us closer together. It's just kind of increased our faith," said Samples, whose Dover Baptist Church was a total loss but for the steeple that survived the blaze Monday night. Investigators with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives joined state and local fire officials this week in sifting through the charred remains for clues at Dover and at another church 3 miles away, Clear Spring Missionary Baptist Church, which was reported on fire a short time later. Both churches serve a rural area outside Tyler, Texas. "They were big ones. They're not to the ground, but they'll be total losses," he said.

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Fires strike 2 more east Texas churches

clipped from www.usatoday.com DALLAS (AP) — State and federal law enforcement agencies were vigorously working Tuesday to try to find out who has been setting fire to churches in eastern Texas. Fire broke out at two churches about three miles apart Monday night in a rural area northwest of Tyler, which is about 85 miles southeast of Dallas. Investigators have not confirmed them as arson, but they were reported within an hour of one another and eight other churches have been intentionally torched in the state since the start of the year. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is leading the investigation into the string of arsons. Agency spokesman Tom Crowley said Tuesday it's too early to conclude the latest fires were arson. There were no injuries reported in either fire, but the damage to both churches appeared to be extensive, said Hale, who worked at both fire scenes until about 3 a.m. Tuesday. "They were big ones. They're not to the ground, but they'll be total losses," he said.

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