Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 29, 1995 TAG: 9505010020
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The call for action, they said, was prompted by a city recommendation this week to raze the structure and by community suspicions that the fire was caused by arson.
``We stand here to ask that extensive studies be conducted to determine what caused the fire,'' said Evelyn Bethel, president of Historic Gainsboro Preservation District Inc. ``And if the fire was of unnatural causes, we ask that the perpetrators be caught and brought to justice.
``We who live here and who support this community believe this action is mandatory. It is necessary so that we who live here, those who wish to live here and who work here will be able to live here free from the fear of unwanted and unsolved fires.''
Bethel said that until the cause of the fire is known, that fear - shared by members of the Roanoke community who ``cross racial and economic lines'' - will remain.
``That is why we're requesting an investigation - so this fear can be eliminated,'' she said.
Bethel was hesitant to say specifically what suspicions and rumors had been brought to her attention. She said only that she did not want to ``fuel the flames of distrust any further.''
Billy Southall, acting Roanoke fire chief, said that while arson is a possibility, ``we haven't reached that conclusion yet.''
Wednesday, fire investigators retrieved physical evidence and samples. They have been sent to a state forensic lab for analysis, Southall said. The Roanoke fire marshal's office has asked for a speedy analysis, he said.
The Rev. Charles Green, president of the Roanoke chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said he was concerned about the city's swift conclusion that the building would have to be razed, before an investigation had been conducted. He said he had reason to believe the city was not being thorough in its investigation.
``Tearing it down so soon would certainly destroy whatever they need to find the cause,'' Green said. ``It seems like they have no idea of doing an investigation at all. Just tear it down and forget about it and do away with the evidence.''
The investigation might appear to be moving slowly at this point because of safety concerns, Southall said. The area surrounding the burned church has been roped off to keep people away.
The quick conclusion that the building would have to be razed, though the city has backed off on that recommendation, ``probably caused some of this concern,'' Southall said. ``And maybe people did try to move a little bit too fast.''
Bethel said some citizen concern stemmed from several fires in recent years at other old structures in the Gainsboro area - fires that were suspicious in origin and did not appear to be fully investigated by fire officials.
But Southall said that all suspicious fires, wherever they occur in the city, are thoroughly investigated.
After receiving several calls Friday about Bethel's remarks, Southall researched the most recent fires she'd referred to - two last year and one this year. Two were deemed accidental; one was found to be arson.
Until the cause of the First Baptist fire is determined, ``We will not have a safe community,'' Bethel said.
``Without this investigation, there is subtle agreement by officials that it's OK, that community is not worth anything.''
by CNB