POSTED: Thursday, January 21, 2010 - 7:36pm
UPDATED: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 - 12:42pm
The investigation continues...
TYLER, Texas — Investigators of a string of east Texas church fires say they've determined arson caused six of the fires.
Thomas Crowley is a spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Dallas. He said Thursday that fires at two Tyler churches and one Wednesday in nearby Lindale brings to six the count of east Texas church fires since Jan. 1 blamed on arson.
The three other fires are in the Athens area. Crowley said two other east Texas church fires remain under investigation — one in Corsicana late last year and another in nearby Kerens.
ATF agents from Houston also are investigating a fire earlier this week that devastated the First Baptist Church in Temple.
No injuries have been reported.
Sources close to the investigation tell KETK-TV it's quite possible more than one person is behind the string of fires. In addition, the eight churches are not believed to have alarm systems. How the criminal or criminals knew this fact - remains a mystery.