Property Damage News 04/30/2023

(April 27) Large Fire Destroys Nearly 100-Year-Old Church In North Houston | Houston, TX

A decades old church was left severely damaged after a large fire early Thursday morning in north Houston, according to the Houston Fire Department.

The fire was reported at 5:07 a.m. at Hunter Memorial Church of God in Christ, located in the 4100 block of Airline Drive.

Capt. Cedrick Robinett, a public information officer with HFD, said when crews arrived, there was heavy fire coming from the roof of the church. Firefighters performed a defensive attack due to the building’s burglary bars and forced entry to the church.

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(April 27) Vandal Accused Of Painting Swastikas, Stealing Pride Flags, Facing 22 Civil Rights Violations | Portsmouth, NH

The suspect behind an alleged string of hate-filled acts in Portsmouth, New Hampshire has been brought up on 22 counts of civil rights violations.

Loren Faulkner allegedly gratified spray-painted swastikas and defaced items in support of people of color and the LGBTQ+ community in February.

Ten businesses and places of worship were defaced by Faulkner, according to the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office. The vandalism spree also included defacing a rainbow park bench at Portsmouth Place Apartments, destroying a LGBTQ+ Pride flag at St. John’s Episcopal Church, defacing a Black Heritage Trail sign and vandalizing a litany of signs and mural expressing support for marginalized communities.

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(April 25) Ohio Man Charged For Firebombing Church Hosting Drag Shows | Chesterland, OH

An eastern Ohio man told investigators that he tried to burn down an Ohio church because he wanted to prevent a drag show that was scheduled to take place there, federal prosecutors allege in newly unsealed charges.

Aimenn Penny, a 20-year-old from Alliance who is a member of a “white lives matter” group that espouses racist and neo-Nazi views, tried to burn down the Community Church of Chesterland early on March 25, authorities allege in court documents unsealed Monday. Chesterland is a small community east of Cleveland.

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(April 25) Man charged with setting Oklahoma City church on fire |Oklahoma City, OK

An Oklahoma City man has been charged with setting fire to a local church.

According to the United States Department of Justice, a criminal complaint was unsealed on Monday that charged 54-year-old Oscar Reynaldo Gomez with arson of the God of No Limits Church

On Monday, April 17, fire crews responded to GONL in Oklahoma City around 5 a.m. after the building caught on fire. After the fire, federal investigators are called in to help investigate.

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(April 25) Historic Eastford Church Burns To The Ground Sunday Morning | Eastford, CT

An almost 300-year-old church burned to the ground early Sunday morning in Eastford, according to the Woodstock Volunteer Fire Association. 

Station 76 reported receiving a call at 3:25 a.m. of a structural fire at The Congregational Church of Eastford on 8 Church Rd. Extensive damage had been done to the building by the time firefighters arrived.

The deputy chief of the Eastford Independent Fire Company confirmed that there were no injuries and that the building was empty while the fire burned.

The weather delayed fire suppression efforts.

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