ROCKINGHAM — Local, state and federal law enforcement officers are investigating an early morning fire at a Richmond County church.
A Richmond County sheriff’s deputy responded to a call of a fire at Ashley Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church on Mizpah Road just before 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, according to Chief Deputy Mark Gulledge.
The responding deputy saw smoke coming from the church, pulled to the back of the building and saw a window had been damaged, Gulledge said. He then grabbed the fire extinguisher from his patrol car to keep the flames down.
Another deputy soon arrived and helped knock down the fire until the East Rockingham and Cordova fire departments pulled up.
The fire was contained to the financial office at the back of the fellowship hall, damaging a computer, printer and filing cabinets, according to Arallen Jones, one of the church’s trustees.
The pastor’s office had slight water damage from the fire departments extinguishing the fire.
However, the stench of smoke of smoke permeated throughout the church including the sanctuary.
When asked why he thought someone would try to set fire to the church, Jones said, “out of hatred,” though he doesn’t believe it to be racially motivated.
“Some people ain’t got no feelings for God’s house,” he said. “I think they did just for hate, for spite.”
Jones said there would have been a lot more damage if the sanctuary had been targeted.
He added that the pastor said they would have services on Sunday.
Gulledge said the fire has been deemed suspicious and is still under investigation. The sheriff’s office is being assisted by the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives.
