FHnews – Volunteer firefighter Kennan Loy Williams, 27, a district captain with the Banks County Volunteer Fire Department in Georgia, was killed late New Year's Eve while battling a fire at the historic New Salem United Methodist Church.

He died when the roof of the 100+ year-old building collapsed about 45 minutes into the blaze, which was reported at about 9:30 p.m. Four other firefighters were injured, none reported critical. Williams leaves behind a wife, a 9-year-old daughter and a brother, who is also a firefighter and was on the scene at the time of the tragedy.

Funeral information will be posted when available.

The FBI/ATF Arson Task Force is investigating the blaze as arson. A second church fire in nearby Oconee County was reported just hours later and accerlerants were suspected. There have been five church fires in the region in the last two weeks. The suspect(s) in the blaze that claimed Williams' life will be charged with murder, officials said.

Arrangements for Capt. Williams are being handled by the McGahee-Griffin Funeral Home, 459 North Main St, Cornelia, Ga. Viewing & visitation is today (Saturday) at the funeral home from 14:00 to 16:00 and 19:00 to 21:00 Hours.

The funeral will be 14:00 hours Sunday, January 3rd at the New Holiness Congregational Church in Alto, Ga

Tentatively scheduled: A procession from the Square in Cornelia to the church, and then to the cemetery, less than 1/2 mile from church.

Per Georgia Mutual Aid Group (GMAG) Duty Officer

Special Thanks to Hank Przybylowicz and Bill Delmar for contributing to this report.