Arson mulled in Los Alamos church fire

LOS ALAMOS, N.M. (KRQE) - Federal agents have joined the investigation into the apparent arson fire that did major damage to the New Beginnings Fellowship Church in Los Alamos Wednesday.

It's not clear if the fire reported around 10 a.m. is connected to some recent break-ins.

More than 20 firefighters fought the blaze that burned for hours in the church on East Road Los Alamos.

"We found heavy fire in the sanctuary areas of the church," Chief Troy Hughes said. "We were able to make entry through a breezeway or a connecting hallway that connected it to the main building and were able to stop the fire before it spread into the main building."

But a look on Thursday showed the damage is far beyond the chapel. Smoke badly stained the hallways of the main building.

Investigators from the state Fire Marshal's Office and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were looking for tiny details that could point to a cause.

The ATF is involved because it's a church fire.

The church pastor said someone broke into the church last week, and on the morning of the fire he saw another open door before discovering flames.

Investigators haven't confirmed the reports of latest break-in, but they are not ruling anything out.

"Every fire we look at we look at as potentially an arson fire until we rule out something different," Hughes said.

Sunday services will temporarily be held at another church next door.