CLEVELAND, Tenn. (AP) -- Federal and state agencies are now investigating an East Tennessee church fire that one officer described as "suspicious."
The Cleveland Daily Banner reports that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Tennessee State Bomb and Arson Squad have joined the investigation of the fire that destroyed Thompson Springs Baptist Church on Thursday.
Lt. Dewayne May of Bradley County Fire-Rescue says it's been standard procedure for ATF and the state to be involved in church arsons in the past.
He said the fire is being categorized as "suspicious."
No one was hurt. The church was built in 1932.
The flames did not reach a new addition that is about two-thirds finished.
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Information from: Cleveland Daily Banner, http://www.clevelandbanner.com
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
