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Monday's Church Fire Is Third In String Of Suspected Arson For City Neighborhood

Today’s early morning church fire was the third suspicious blaze set in a single city neighborhood over the last two weeks.

Fire at the MLK Presbyterian Church, Springfield, Dec. 28

Fire at the MLK Presbyterian Church, Springfield, Dec. 28

 Photo Credit: Drew Garrett
This map shows where Springfield firefighters have responded to blazes in December 2020 as of Dec. 28. (The list of incidents may not be complete). To see the map better, follow the link in the article.

This map shows where Springfield firefighters have responded to blazes in December 2020 as of Dec. 28. (The list of incidents may not be complete). To see the map better, follow the link in the article.

 Photo Credit: Google My Maps
Kristin Palpini

On Monday, Dec. 28, Springfield Fire Commissioner Bernard J. Cavi said that the fire at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Presbyterian Church appears to have been intentionally set.

The fire began sometime between 2 and 3 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 28.

The church fire on Concord Terrace is the third suspected intentionally-set city fire police and firefighters have responded to in the last week, Cavi said during a Monday afternoon press conference.

"There were three other fires in the general area in the last week," Cavi said. "I can't say if the church was particularly targetted."

CLICK HERE FOR A MAP OF DECEMBER 2020 FIRES, SPRINGFIELD

Cavi did not specify the other two blazes, but in the last two weeks or so, Springfield Firefighters have responded to fires at: 

  • 100 Oak St., Thursday, Dec. 24 - it was put out sometime around 6 a.m.,
  • 30 Pennsylvania Ave., Thursday, Dec. 24,
  • 124 Mulberry St., Thursday, Dec. 17 - four people were displaced by the fire, but no injuries were reported,
  • 11 Arion Place, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 8 people were displaced by the fire,
  • 94 Treetop Ave. and 273 Orange St., Sunday, Dec. 13.

It is not yet clear what motivated someone to set the church on fire and the incident may have been a hate crime.

“A church burned at nighttime, so it’s a potential hate crime,” Cavi said. The FBI is investigating the blaze as well as local and state law enforcement and fire officials.

The condition of the church was not clear at the time of the press conference - 2 p.m., just hours after the fire had been put out. Cavi said it is certainly not usable at the moment.

“The church is heavily damaged inside,” Cavi said.

Police and firefighters have canvassed the church’s neighborhood and are seeking witnesses or anyone who may know about the fire or, in general, what was going on in the area between the hours of 2 and 3 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 28.

People with information are asked to call the arson hotline - 1 (800) 682-9229

So far, no suspect has been identified, Cavi said.

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