Nov. 05--Multiple agencies continue to investigate what caused a fire at an Ashford church last week, including the federal agency of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Michael Knight, the spokesperson for the Nashville field division of ATF, said the cause of the fire that engulfed the building that housed Church of Faith, Hope and Charity remains ongoing.
Knight said along with the ATF, the Dothan Arson Task Force and the Alabama Fire Marshal's Office are also investigating the cause of the fire.
The fire Friday gutted the building, located at the intersection of Third Avenue and Church Street, as firefighters from Ashford and other surrounding departments worked to keep the blaze from damaging nearby structures. The building formerly housed Ashford First Baptist Church.
Todd Thorpe, lead pastor at Watermark Church, said First Baptist Church moved from the building in 2005 when it opened a new location on Elmer Road near U.S. 84. The name changed to Watermark around 2010.
The church was founded in 1893 but the current building was built later. The building was sold to Fred Trawick around 2005.
Knight said investigators with ATF automatically respond to all church fires.
"As a matter of course we respond to church fires. When we respond right away we work with the fire marshal's office and the local fire department," Knight said. "Historically there have been issues related to church fires related to hate crimes. It didn't fall into those higher-profile categories, but especially in the more rural areas we have the resources to help."
Knight said they basically try to eliminate any form of natural cause to the fire such as inclement weather and lightning. Then the investigators try to determine if some criminal aspect was involved in the fire.
"There's a lot of factors that go into it, that's why we bring in our resources, not take it over, but to augment the local resources already there," Knight said. "If it turns out to be criminal in nature then our role may be a little more advanced."
State Fire Marshal Edward Polk said it was too early to release specific details as what caused the fire or to call it accidental or criminal.
"It's major damage," Polk said. "I know that the steeple fell in and when that happens it's pretty major damage."
Copyright 2013 - Dothan Eagle, Ala.
