Officials: South Carolina Church Fire Was *NOT* Arson, Cause Still Unknown

[Initech]

GREELEYVILLE, S.C. (AP) — A fire that destroyed a black church that 20 years ago was a target of the Ku Klux Klan was not the work of an arsonist, a federal law enforcement official said Wednesday.

Local and regional officials said at a news conference that they haven't ruled out any potential causes in the fire. But the federal official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the case publicly, told The Associated Press that preliminary indications show the fire at the Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church in Greeleyville was not intentionally set and was not arson.

The fire is still under investigation, all the officials said.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/official-fire-at-south-carolina-black-church-wasnt-arson/ar-AAcoC28#image=2

Kind of nice when you have more details to a story isn't it?

[840high]

1. ty

[DiverDave]

2. Officials: South Carolina Church Fire Was *NOT* Arson...sure

What else is a good 'ol boy to say?
Just so happens its an accident. And I got a bridge to sell ya.

[Yo_Mama]

4. There were bad storms at the time it happened, and BATF is investigating

These aren't good ol' boys or just locals. Reread:

A fire that destroyed a black church that 20 years ago was a target of the Ku Klux Klan was not the work of an arsonist, a federal law enforcement official said Wednesday.

[niyad]

17. anonymously, because he wasn't even supposed to be talking.

[Initech]

9. Exactly why I say more information is needed.

Forensic techs just don't go in and immediately determine a direct cause of a fire. There's a million tests and investigations and regulations to follow before determining the direct cause of a fire. They can rule out things but that's only if tests prove conclusive or not.

[brer cat]

14. Not all officials are asses,

bigots, racists, or even incompetents. If they can rule out arson in this instance, maybe they can put additional resources at another church where arson has not been ruled out.

[restorefreedom]

3. if the cause is not yet know

how can they rule out arson?

[former9thward]

6. They think it is lightning.

It turns out about 400 churches burn down every year. One reason is that if lightning or something else unintentional happens there is no one around most of the time. Also, especially in rural areas churches are sometime off somewhere where people aren't around to see a problem.

[Yo_Mama]

8. Churches are often built high, and often in rural areas they will be the high point.

Lightning rods can help somewhat.

[restorefreedom]

15. geez that is too bad

yes sounds like more lightening rods needed

[jwirr]

20. Lightning rods and ground wires. I am surprise that this church would not be equiped with them as

it was built only 20 years ago.

I was setting in bed with my mother and siblings when lightning hit our house. We had the patio door open and a huge fireball came rolling in that door right past the bed we were setting on and to the ground wire on the chimney. No fire. My father was outside when it hit and was terrified that we were all dead. No one was even slightly hurt. I remember being amazed.

[niyad]

18. although the temple did not burn, I remember years ago when the mormon temple in la jolla was

struck by lightning--well, more specifically, the bronze statue of moroni on top of the thing was struck.

(gee, what do you think happens to the tallest piece of metal sitting on that building???)

[Yo_Mama]

19. ATF confirms lightning strike

https://twitter.com/ATFHQ

[Yo_Mama]

7. There are distinctive burn patterns and chemical traces.

They look for the burn patterns and do tests. It's rather sophisticated.

[malaise]

5. The cause is undetermined at this point

that's the word of the experts

[Yo_Mama]

10. Yes, but they don't think it is intentional, which means it probably started on the roof

According to this report, there were over 30,000 fires a year started by lightning:
http://www.nfpa.org/research/reports-and-statistics/fire-causes/lightning-fires-and-lightning-strikes

Those are reports from local, federal and state departments.

Given the nature of the building shell (brick), I would think they'd be able to be very accurate.

[Initech]

11. Yeah lightning is a very real cause from what I hear.

But lets ignore that and continue to power the outrage machine right?

[Yo_Mama]

12. There are enough ACTUAL racist attacks to draw our attention.

I'm glad the feds are involved with this investigation, and although it's hard on the congregation to lose their church for any reason, it will be a real relief if they get confirmation that it was just an accident.

After the Charleston mass murder, it would be bleeping terrifying for them to believe it was a targeted attack. It also makes it a priority for law enforcement to find out whether this WAS a targeted attack, because if it was, they need protection.

[Initech]

16. Yeah I'm betting that it was more an accident.

Don't get me wrong, I think if it really was a hate crime that it needs to be investigated to the fullest extent that the law provides and that anyone involved should be prosecuted to the maximum. But if it was an accident I'd rather know all the facts first before pointing fingers and playing the blame game.

[Igel]

13. Perhaps.

But it pays to realize that ruling out some causes =/= identifying the cause.

[1939]

21. If they don't find an accellerant, they can rule out arson NT