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Man sought in biblical center fire

Dallas Fire-Rescue officials said Wednesday they are looking for a man who may be able to offer information about a six-alarm fire that destroyed irreplaceable treasures inside the Biblical Arts Center in North Dallas.

"We believe this person can provide us with additional information to help us find the cause of the fire," Capt. Jesse Garcia said. "We're not saying they are a suspect, but just someone who can help us with information at this time."

Capt. Garcia said the man was “familiar” to museum officials, but he would not elaborate.

Dozens of pieces, including statues and paintings, were pulled from the Biblical Arts Center during the six-alarm blaze. About 120 Dallas firefighters spent several hours Tuesday battling an intense, smoky blaze fueled by material in the exhibits and archives – paper, wood, canvas and paint.

No injuries were reported, but Dallas Fire-Rescue Lt. Joel Lavender said the fire caused about $2 million in damage to the building. Museum officials and insurance agents would have to estimate damages to the museum's content, he said.

Scott Peck, the director of the museum, told WFAA-TV that 80 percent to 90 percent of the collection was destroyed. Virtually every piece of art sustained smoke damage and the loss was estimated at more than $10 million.

The flames might have ignited in the museum's prized possession: a gigantic 36-year-old painting of the New Testament scene of Pentecost. The Book of Acts describes the scene as the Holy Spirit descending on the apostles in "what seemed to be tongues of fire." (snip)

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/religion/stories/063005dnmetfire.5838f922.html