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By Marissa Wagner and Bill O'NeilNearly a week after flames tore through an eastside church--leaving the historic building in ruins--investigators said they now know arson is not the cause of that fire.
Officials said the fire began inside a mechanical room on the second floor of the Childress Memorial Church of God in Christ--and no one was inside of the building before San Antonio firefighters forced their way inside to battle the flames.
"The damage of the church afterwards was one of the maint hings that kind of slowed down the investigation because we had to make sure that site was safe so we could go in and actually perfrom the investigation" said San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood, adding " A lot of shoring had to be done, assessment of that property to make sure it was safe, becasue we did not want to get anyone injured during that investigative phase."
As for the future--and whether or not the church may rebuild, officials are unsure.
"The damage of the church afterwards was one of the maint hings that kind of slowed down the investigation because we had to make sure that site was safe so we could go in and actually perfrom the investigation" said San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood, adding " A lot of shoring had to be done, assessment of that property to make sure it was safe, becasue we did not want to get anyone injured during that investigative phase."
As for the future--and whether or not the church may rebuild, officials are unsure.
"I haven't broached that issue...it's been a pretty traumatic week--and they've been focused on trying to get resettled" said City Councilwoman Ivy Taylor.
