CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Fire investigators said a blaze inside a south Charlotte church was deliberately set.
Arson investigators, firefighters and police spent Wednesday morning inside Providence Baptist Church on Randolph Road searching for clues as to who could be responsible.
An employee told Eyewitness News she smelled smoke in the sanctuary of the church shortly after 8 a.m.
"You could smell the smoke really powerful, and it was really thick in the sanctuary, so (my coworker) went and called the fire department and I pulled the fire alarm to alert the day care to get the children out," said Dianna Neil, the food director at the church.
"It appears we have two intentionally set fires in the sanctuary area," said Charlotte Fire Battalion Chief Cindy Bonham.
Fire officials said it appears two separate fires were set in the church simultaneously, one in a storage area and one in a hallway area.
"We are now entering the follow up phase, which will take some time," said Chief Fire Investigator Paul Wilkinson.
“I don't understand why they would do this, obviously. It could've been much, much worse, so I'd like to know what's on your mind, what's the problem? I'd like to know that,” said Dr. Al Cadenhead, the church’s senior pastor.
Providence Baptist Church is closed for the day while investigators do their work. The day care, which is located in a separate building on the church campus, remains open.
About 40 people work at the church daily.
Investigators have not said whether they have any leads.
WSOC
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