Florida Church Building Burns After Man Threatens to Set Fire to It
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ORLANDO, Fla. --
Investigators believe a man followed through with a threat late Tuesday night to burn down a building being renovated by an Orlando church. The fire destroyed items donated to the Nehemiah Ministries, and fire investigators say they believe it was arson.
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Police are looking for the man they believe torched the building on West Livingston Street (
). A next-door neighbor told WFTV that the suspect said he was going to do it.
Orlando firefighters were called to the scene around 10:00pm and, when they arrived, they found the two-story building engulfed in flames.
"I could feel the heat on the side of my face from inside my house," a neighbor said.
Neighbors said the building is owned by a pastor who preaches out of a small church next door. The building had recently been fixed up to house people who were struggling, but now one of those people is suspected of setting the fire over a money dispute with the reverend.
"It was very difficult to extinguish," said David Haley, Orlando Fire Department.
The unnamed neighbor said he overheard the two arguing.
"He did say that he would burn that ‘MF’ down. I guess he lived up to his word," he said. "I wish somebody would find him. That's all I want to say.”
Members of the Parramore church said donations they were collecting for a community giveaway this Saturday were being stored in the building. The stored items included appliances, furniture, food and clothing. All of the items were designated to be donated to people in need.
"To come to find out that someone come and set the building on fire that my pastor was building up to help out the people that's homeless, and for them to do something like this it utterly ridiculous," church member Dominique Brown said.
An arson investigator with the Orlando Fire Department told WFTV they recovered a gas can from the building that they believe was likely used to start the fire.
“This is a serious fire, its a fire to a dwelling which carries a 30-year penalty,” Haley said.
Arson investigators said they are working with Orlando police to try to track the suspect down.
Investigators Suspect Man Responsible For Burning Building
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