Originally published at National Catholic Register
The chief said it appeared the church ‘is going to be out of service for a while,’ in part because it ‘sustained a lot of smoke damage.’
Local, state, and federal officials are investigating an apparent act of arson that has shuttered a Massachusetts Catholic parish.
The Franklin Fire Department in Massachusetts said in a Facebook post on Wednesday night that it responded to a fire at St. Mary Church in Franklin in the Archdiocese of Boston.
“A fire in the rear sacristy was quickly extinguished by the initial arriving crews,” the department said. “There was a significant amount of smoke throughout the entire church.”
Firefighters “remained on scene for a period of time to ventilate the building,” the department said.
In a press release on Thursday afternoon, the state Department of Fire Services said the blaze “is being investigated as arson.”
Local investigators were joined by state officials as well as agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) in investigating the fire, the department said.
“Based on an examination of the scene, witness interviews, and other evidence gathered throughout last night and this morning, they collectively determined that the fire was intentionally set,” the
