Federal Officials Investigate 6th Church Fire in Tennessee

Federal authorities are investigating a fire that was intentionally set at a vacant church in Memphis, Tennessee.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives spokesman Michael Knight says the blaze at First Church of Christ is the sixth church fire reported to the federal agency in the past year.

Memphis Fire Department spokesman Wayne Cooke said the one-story church caught fire Sunday night. Cooke said more than 120 emergency personnel responded to the fire, which was brought under control at around 2 a.m. Monday.

Cooke says the church sustained smoke, fire and water damage estimated at $670,000. Investigators determined the fire was intentionally set in multiple locations inside the building.

Knight says the ATF’s bomb data center is working to determine if there are any similarities to previous church fires.