INDIANAPOLIS — Investigators determined arson was the cause of a fire that destroyed a vacant church early Wednesday on the west side of Indianapolis.
Heavy fire was showing when firefighters arrived at the former church just after 3:30 a.m. in the 200 block of North Elder Avenue near West New York Street, according to information from the Indianapolis Fire Department.
Fire crews reported multiple downed power lines shortly after they arrived, and they asked Indianapolis Power & Light to shut off electricity in the area just after 4 a.m.
The north side of the church collapsed at around 4 a.m., and the fire was extinguished shortly before 5:45 a.m., according to IFD.
Neighbors in the area told firefighters the church had been vacant for years, and investigators found the fire was intentionally set and is considered arson.
Anyone with information about the fire should call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477. Residents who have a video doorbell system or home security system are asked to review the video and let fire investigators know if they see anything suspicious.
