[Memphis] Church fire was not arson - Investigators say they may never know cause of inferno

Memphis Commercial Appeal ^ | 10/10/6 | Yolanda Jones

[SmithL]

Standing near the rubble of the historic First United Methodist Church, federal, state and local fire officials announced late Monday that the three-alarm fire that destroyed the church was not caused by arson.

They also said they may never know what sparked the blaze.

For three days, 25 officials from the Memphis Fire Department, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with the state bomb and arson team, sifted through "tons and tons" of rubble at the church where the fire started early Friday.

"We know it was not intentional," said Memphis Fire Department Deputy Director Alvin Benson. "We can't definitely determine what caused the fire, but the investigation ends here."

Bob Pollard, assistant director of the Tennessee Bomb and Arson division, added that key clues they look at to determine arson were not present at the church fire.

"I will not and cannot discuss what those clues are, but just know that those very definite things were not here," he said. "Again I just want to add that the fire was not set."

Pollard said one of the first things they did in the investigation was to interview all of the Memphis firefighters who battled the blaze.

"These guys were there and could pinpoint where they had to fight the fire and they were invaluable in this investigation," he said.

The preliminary determination that the 2:45 a.m. fire at the 113-year-old church started in the basement was correct, said Ron Turk, an ATF agent.

Turk said investigators went through the church "layer by layer" aided by two fire/bomb squad dogs and pinpointed that the fire started in the ceiling area of the basement.

"But there was no sign of forced entry and the alarm didn't sound until the fire started," he said.

Investigators said embers from the church fire ignited fires at three other Downtown buildings.

As fire investigators wrapped up the church investigation shortly before 6 p.m. Monday, church officials discussed rebuilding.

First United Methodist Church's recently announced capital campaign, established to finance renovations, has been reformulated to fund rebuilding efforts following the fire.

Originally to be used for repairs to the roof and clock tower and other renovations, all money raised from the "First Responder" plan now will be used for reconstruction.

Donations may be made at First Alliance Bank, 464 N. Front, Memphis, 38105, and should be designated "First United Methodist Church."

[SmithL]

Follow-up to earlier breaking news story.

I'm sorry about the fire, but I'm glad it wasn't intentional.

[Always Right]

Since they don't know the cause, it is impossible to rule out arson. They can say they don't think it is arson, but if they don't know the cause it is silly to say they rule out arson completely.

[ninergold3]

If the origin of the fire can't be determined then what happens with the insurance claim? Don't insurance companies require a cause?

[billhilly]

Maybe it was a burning bush.

[TomGuy]

Sounds like Keystone investigators:

We don't know what started it, but we know it wasn't arson, even though we don't know what started it.

[battlegearboat]

It's bush's fault.

[orionblamblam]

> Sounds like Keystone investigators:

Not really. Sometimes you might not know what somethign is, but you can rule out what it isn't. Imagine if nobody ahd ever seen an elephant before... and then you gave one toa biologist. He might not know what it is, but he can assure you, after some investigation, that it's not a fish.