Chief Fire Investigator David Lowery said investigators don't have a suspect and don't know enough to say whether it was a hate crime.

"We're still exploring the motivation behind the whole thing, but at this point of time, we just don't know," Lowery said.

Randy Sigg, a lay church leader, said the church hasn't received hate mail or threats, and has no idea why an arsonist would have zeroed in on them. Sigg said he believes the crime was random.

"There was no writing on walls saying anything to indicate that a church -- or our church -- was targeted," he said.

Sigg said investigators indicated the fires were "amateurish," and one was set by piling napkins and other paper on top of a stove in the kitchen and turning on a burner. "It looked like they used that as a torch," Sigg said.

Lowery and Brisley, citing the arson investigation, declined to release specific details about the fire.

Sunday, the fires set off sprinklers inside the church, and firefighters received an alarm signal at 2:39 a.m., Charlotte fire Capt. Rob Brisley said.

By the time the first fire companies arrived, smoke -- which rises -- had almost reached down to the floor, Brisley said.

Brisley and Lowery said firefighters put the fire out quickly, and no one was injured.

Brisley said firefighters cut holes in the roof for ventilation, and much of the damage inside was from water and smoke.

Many church members said they received early-morning calls from other congregants as they got ready for church services. Others said they saw reports of the fire on television, and went to see the damage.

Sigg said church members are reeling. Many said they didn't know what to think.

"They tried to do as much damage as they possibly could," member Ted Ahern said. "Starting a fire is one thing. Doing as much damage as possible is another."

The National Coalition for Burned Churches and Community Empowerment, based in Charleston, estimates on its Web site that church arson fires occur at a rate of 15-20 per month nationally.

Last month, three college students were arrested in connection with a string of nine rural church fires across Alabama that had sparked widespread fear.

Lowery said arson against churches in Charlotte is rare.

In one of the most well-known local cases, a 13-year-old Charlotte girl admitted setting fire to the former sanctuary of Matthews Murkland Presbyterian Church in southeast Charlotte in 1996. The fire occurred at the same time as church fires across the Southeast, and set off a community outcry.

In Sunday's fire, the 20,000-square-foot church building opened in 1997 and was home to three Mormon congregations, totaling roughly 1,200 worshippers. It also served as the administrative center for about 10 congregations.

Sunday afternoon, members of all three congregations -- more than 400 people -- gathered at an older church building off Hilliard Road for services.

Church officials said part of the church has stadium seating, which sent water rushing downhill, and it must now be pumped out. They also asked members to hold donations until administrators have access to working computers.

They discussed where people would be meeting for now.

The closing hymn? "The Spirit of God Like a Fire Is Burning."

"To bring a little levity," said Sigg.

Have Information?

Investigators are asking that anyone with information about Sunday's fire call Crimestoppers, (704) 334-1600. Tips may be anonymous; rewards may be available.

Written by The Charlotte Observer

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