SLED: Mt Zion church fire not arson

SC investigators have concluded that the fire that destroyed the predominantly black Mt. Zion AME Church near Greeleyville, SC, Tuesday night was sparked by lightening not intentionally set.

Declaring the investigation now complete, the State Law Enforcement Division Thursday evening stated: “Based upon the scene examination, the fire debris analysis, witness statements and a lightning strike report, the cause of the fire was best classified as natural. Investigators observed no indicator of criminal intent.”

The number of church fires in the South since the deadly June 17 attack on the Emanuel AME church in Charleston is a matter of concern, SLED Chief Mark Keel said Tuesday night as firefighters from Williamsburg and Clarendon Counties battled the blaze.

The NAACP warned black churches Tuesday to take “necessary precautions” as authorities in Southern states investigate whether several church fires over the last week are arsons.

The Mt. Zion AME Church was burned to the ground in 1995 during a spate of black church burnings in the south that prompted a federal investigation.

This story was originally published July 2, 2015 at 7:26 PM.