Pennsylvania

Another Fire Breaks Out at Pennsylvania Church Already Torched by Arson

Federal authorities are investigating an earlier fire at Iglesia Pentecostal de Bethlehem as an arson

What to Know

  • A second fire in just 3 days has broken out the Iglesia Pentecostal de Bethlehem (Pentecostal Church of Bethlehem).
  • Thursday's fire comes after the earlier blaze was ruled an arson by federal investigators.
  • No one was hurt in either fire.

A small fire has been extinguished at a Lehigh Valley church that was damaged earlier this week by another blaze that authorities say was deliberately set.

The latest fire at the Iglesia Pentecostal de Bethlehem (Pentecostal Church of Bethlehem) on the 1000 block of Pembroke Road was reported around 2 a.m. Thursday and was quickly contained. No injuries were reported. The cause of the latest blaze remained under investigation Thursday by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and local authorities.

The fire came two days after authorities say someone set a fire that gutted the church's sanctuary and caused smoke and water damage throughout the building. No injuries were reported in that overnight fire, and a motive for setting the blaze remains under investigation.

The ATF is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information on Tuesday's fire.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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