Brownsville, TN (May 1, 2015)  —Haywood County Sheriff’s Office joins with ATF and Lauderdale County in offering a $5,000 reward for information about two January 7, 2015 church fires.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division, Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Lauderdale and Haywood County Sheriff’s Offices announced today the offering of a $5,000 reward for any information regarding the fires that occurred on January 7, 2015 at the Trinity  Methodist Church and the Cowboy Non-Denominational Church that may lead to the arrest and conviction of any person or persons involved in the fire.

On January 7, 2015, fires occurred at the Trinity Methodist Church, 5659 Nunn Road, Brownsville, Tennessee and the Cowboy Non-Denominational church, 5880 Henning Orysa Road, Henning, Tennessee.

According to Michael Knight, ATF spokesperson, a thorough scene investigation was conducted by ATF and the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office. In addition to the fires, an attempted break in occurred at the Springfield Baptist Church, 237 Springhill Road, Ripley, Lauderdale County.

Knight says samples taken from the fire scenes were sent to the ATF laboratory for analysis. The ATF Laboratory determined the presence of ignitable liquids from the samples taken from the church scene. The laboratory report combined with the scene examination concluded the fires were intentionally set.

ATF, Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office, Lauderdale and Haywood County Sheriff’s Offices are conducting this investigation.

Knight said, we appreciate the public’s help. If anyone thinks they have pictures, video or any information about either of these fires we ask that you contact ATF and we will provide you with an email address to send them to us, or make other arrangements.

Anyone with the information about the incident should call ATF at 888/ATF-FIRE or the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office at 800/762-3017.