Crime & Safety
Smithfield Church Fire Ruled Arson: Reward Offered For Tips
A reward up to $5,000 is being offered for information about who set the fire at the New Life Worship Center.
SMITHFIELD, RI — The Rhode Island Arson Watch Program is offering a reward up to $5,000 for information about the fire Monday morning at the New Life Worship Center. The fire marshal and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives in Boston were investigating. Now, ATF has indicated the fire was deliberately set.
"Investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Rhode Island State Fire Marshal’s Office (RI-SFMO), and the Smithfield Fire Marshal’s Office determined that the fire was
intentionally set," the ATF said.
The fire, which started around 6:11 a.m. Monday, damaged the church on the Douglas Pike campus.
Find out what's happening in Smithfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"The fire resulted in significant damage to the exterior of the building and smoke damage throughout the interior," ATF spokesman Matthew O'Shaughnessy said. A second building, which is used for education, was not involved.
Rhode Island Arson Watch Reward Program offering up to $5,000 reward information on the Smithfield, RI church fire. pic.twitter.com/Hf0RTfwHVx
— ATF Boston (@ATFBoston) December 19, 2017
Find out what's happening in Smithfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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