ARLINGTON, Mass. — Arson investigators are offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest after someone broke into a church in Arlington and set a fire overnight, officials said.
An alert Arlington police officer smelled smoke coming from the Saint Athanasius the Great Greek Orthodox Church on Appleton Street around 1:30 a.m. and called the fire department, a church official told Boston 25 News.
Firefighters found a smoldering fire in the basement of building’s rectory and quickly extinguished it. The area was unoccupied due to ongoing renovations.
“We’re asking anyone with information on this fire or how it started to share it with investigators,” Arlington Fire Chief Kevin M. Kelley said. “You can remain anonymous if you prefer.”
Church leaders tell Boston 25 they’re concerned the church is being targeted. They tell us there have been several acts of vandalism at the same location since March.
One church leader tells Boston 25 that students from the nearby Ottoson Middle School had broken church windows and set off fire extinguishers inside. But right now it’s unclear if there’s any connection to the suspicious fire.
We did reach out to the Arlington School Superintendent for comment, but got no reply.
A neighbor up the street reported a fire set overnight Sunday. A black mark in the street shows where it started.
“I understand they’re pulling tapes and anything they can find to see if these things are connected,” said Chief Kelley.
So, while workers board up broken windows, neighbors also wonder if these incidents are linked.
“Why a building like that attached to a church? It just didn’t seem random to me,” said Terry Shaw, a local neighbor.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Arson Watch Reward Program Hotline at 1-800-682-9229.
The investigation into the fire remains ongoing.
Arson investigation at Saint Athanasius Greek Church in Arlington after someone broke into the community center and started a fire overnight. A church leader says an alert Arlington police officer saved the day when he smelled smoke and called the fire department. #Boston25 pic.twitter.com/2sK5YAszuz
— John Monahan (@JohnMonahanTV) June 21, 2022
A $5000 reward now being offered for information on whoever started a fire overnight in the community center at Saint Athanasius Greek Church in Arlington. #Boston25 pic.twitter.com/E4FAaYfbDe
— John Monahan (@JohnMonahanTV) June 21, 2022
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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