Fire Guts 2 Churches in Kentucky

August 18, 2008

Fire destroyed a 150-year-old church in south central Kentucky — the second in the area to burn in three days — and an investigator said it was intentionally set.

David West, Kentucky State Police arson investigator, told The Daily News of Bowling Green that investigators determined the fire Aug. 15 at Mount Zion Church of Christ in Warren County was caused by arson.

The Mount Pleasant Church of Christ, eight miles down the road, was destroyed by flames on Aug. 13. That fire remains under investigation. Officials have not determined if it was intentionally set or if it’s linked to the Mount Zion fire, West told the newspaper.

“We’re still looking into a number of things and collecting information,” West said.

Investigators have not said how they know the fire was intentional. Phone messages left for West at the state police post in Bowling Green were not returned.

No one was hurt in either fire.

The Mount Zion blaze was reported shortly after 3 a.m. CDT.