Fire at 100-Year Old Georgia Church Deemed Arson

A fire that destroyed the sanctuary of a 100-year-old church in Statesboro, Georgia was ruled an arson, Insurance and Fire Commissioner John Oxendine said.

Authorities have arrested a suspect after the fire engulfed the Emit Grove Baptist Church last Monday night, Oxendine said.

The sanctuary, which is about 5,000 square feet, collapsed and heavy equipment may be necessary for investigators from the commissioner’s arson unit to continue work.