Arson investigation underway after Haverhill church set on fire

HAVERHILL, Mass. — A suspected arsonist is on the run after police say someone set fire to the Riverside Church in Haverhill.

WHAT WE KNOW

The church was damaged Tuesday morning when someone lit the building on fire around 4 a.m. Smoke damage was left throughout the church and one side of the building was charred.

Pastor Paul Soucy told FOX25 that fire investigators found 70 feet of accelerant surrounding the building. It appears the intent was to engulf the entire structure in flames

"The last bastion of sanctuary is the church, or a synagogue or a place of worship. When these places aren't safe, what is safe?” Pastor Soucy said.

Thankfully, Pastor Soucy said, Haverhill fire crews prevented those flames from spreading further and limited the damage to one side.

NOT THE FIRST TIME

This isn't the first time something like this has happened. In 1970, the same church was burned to the ground. Arson was also to blame in that case.

"I have people who are in my congregation who were in their 30s and 40s at that time, and are now in their 80s and 90s, who are now experiencing a second fire,” Pastor Soucy said.

LOOKING FOR ANSWERS

Pastor Soucy said he's been working with investigators to figure out if someone in the community was upset with the church. So far, there are no leads.

"We really haven’t come up with anyone, so it’s a really daunting task to come up with who would do such a thing to a church,” he said.

There's a reward up to $5,000 for information leading to the culprit.

The damage is estimated at nearly $70,000. Anyone who wants to help cover the repair cost can send a check with 'arson repair' in the note line to

Riverside Church
278 Groveland St
Haverhill, MA 01830

Cox Media Group