The Knoxville Fire Department is actively soliciting assistance from the public to identify a suspect connected to a church fire yesterday. The department reported a small blaze had been quickly extinguished at the Eternal Life Harvest Center located at 1801 Western Avenue and the structure sustained only minor damage according to a WVLT article.
After responding around 3 a.m., firefighters managed to prevent the fire from spreading inside the church, with no injuries reported Assistant Chief Mark Wilbanks highlighted the rapid extinguishment in an interview obtained by WVLT, "Very unfortunate that someone would have the audacity to do something like that to the house of the Lord the house of worship," this is while Pastor Ashley Kariuki, meanwhile, asked for prayers and expressed gratitude toward the first responders who mitigated the fire.
Investigators from the Knoxville Fire Department have since retrieved photographs of a "potential suspect" observed in proximity to the church at the time of the incident, according to details provided by WBIR as the department urges anyone who can identify the individual in the images to contact the East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers via multiple anonymous methods, including a call to 865-215-7165 or through their website and mobile app.
Eternal Life Harvest Center maintains its resolve, posting a video to social media outlining repair plans and extending thanks to the community for support, “Always remember: the hand of God is on us, and this is just a sign that we are on the right track,” a speaker denoted in the video, meanwhile the church leadership estimates over $5,000 in damages, and despite the ordeal, has scheduled a worship service for the forthcoming Wednesday evening as reported by WATE.
