No leads in East Point church fire

By Marcus K. Garner

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

State officials said they have not received any leads to help find a man who set fire to the East Point First Mallalieu United Methodist Church.

On Tuesday, the state released surveillance photos of the suspected arsonist.

The state is offering up to $10,000 for information on the arson.

"We consider anybody that will set fire to a house of worship to be a heightened threat to the community," Georgia Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner John Oxendine said late Monday night.

Federal, state and local officials investigating the blaze said the fire eventually burned itself out.

No injuries were reported in the fire at 2651 Church Street, officials said.

Investigators from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, from East Point police and fire departments, and from Oxendine's office called the blaze an arson.

"We found evidence of accelerant both inside and outside the church," said Oxendine who oversees the state's fire marshal's office. "The person broke out two window panes to the sanctuary."

But damage to the church was minimal, and Oxendine pointed out that some upgrades in the sanctuary stopped the fire from burning.

"Fortunately, the carpet was new," he said. "Modern carpet doesn't burn very well, and sheet rock is resistant to fire."

The fire was discovered by church members there for a meeting some time between 3 and 5 p.m., said Glenn Allen, spokesman for Oxendine's office.

No suspect or motive has been identified, but Oxendine said investigators are following several leads.

Investigators are asking that anyone with information on the cause of this fire call the state commissioner's arson hotline at 1-800-282-5804.

Staff reporter Megan Matteucci contributed to this report.