Federal investigators are looking into a fire reported over the weekend at a historic Kansas City, Missouri, church that is home to a congregation predominately from South Sudan.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said Monday that it determined the blaze was set intentionally, according to public information officer John Ham, the Kansas City Star reported. The fire was discovered at approximately 9:15 a.m. local time on Saturday.
When firefighters arrived on the scene, the front of the building and the stairs entering the basement were fully engulfed in flames. Investigators determined the fire was ignited around those locations.
“It was the center of social life for the community for 120 years,” said Jason Withington of Kansas City, one of the church’s trustees. “To find out that somebody intentionally set the fire, it’s just heartbreaking.”
Federal and local investigators believe a fire over the weekend at the historic Harlem Baptist Church in Kansas City, North, was arson. https://t.co/FLUMd7Qe0B pic.twitter.com/IQFcPi2k5S
— Bob Cronkleton (@cronkb) September 19, 2021
One firefighter was rescued after a stairway collapsed but was not injured. The church suffered heavy fire damage to its front, along with smoke and water damage in other parts of the building.
Founded in 1907, the Harlem Tabernacle Church is the last remaining original building in the non-incorporated community known as Harlem. It presently serves as a congregation point for the United Christian Fellowship.
The church ceased operations as the Harlem Baptist church in 2005, and the current Sudanese congregation began meeting at the location approximately 12 years ago. The church’s sign still reads “Harlem Baptist Church.”
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The Washington Examiner contacted the ATF for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
