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Officials investigating Cambridge church fire as arson

Smoke plumes rise from the Faith Lutheran Church, which caught fire, in Cambridge, April 9. (Dan Mauzy/WBUR)
Smoke plumes rise from the Faith Lutheran Church, which caught fire, in Cambridge, April 9. (Dan Mauzy/WBUR)

Officials are investigating the massive fire that burned through the Faith Lutheran Church in Cambridge on Easter Sunday as arson. And they're asking the public with any tips as they continue their probe.

“No piece of information is too small to share," said Cambridge Fire Chief Thomas F. Cahill Jr., in a statement on Tuesday. "We are keenly aware that any place of worship is a cornerstone of the community, and we want to reassure residents that we’re approaching this case with the seriousness and gravity that it deserves."

The investigation is a joint effort by the Cambridge Fire Department, Cambridge Police Department, State Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives.

Officials said the investigation began while response teams were battling the six-alarm fire, which was first reported around 5:30 p.m. on April 9. The church's pastor said no one was inside at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported.

Crews fought the blaze until early the next morning, leaving behind a badly damaged structure. The church's steeple was taken down by April 11. Photos posted online show much of the roof missing and a charred interior.

Investigators said they are interested in any photos or videos of the scene from the day before the fire, the day of the fire and the day after when fire suppression was underway. Tips can be reported to the FBI’s toll-free line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or online.

With reporting from WBUR's Newscast Unit

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