Reward of up to $5,000 offered for information about Jan. 4 fire at church, parsonage in Lewis County

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mo. — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, in conjunction with the Missouri Division of Fire Safety and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of people responsible for a fire at the Providence Baptist Church and parsonage in Williamstown. 

A press release issued on Tuesday, Jan. 9, said investigators are working to uncover evidence and determine the origin and cause of the blaze. Investigators focusing on leads are calling on members of the public for information to help move the case along. 

The fire occurred at approximately 5:07 a.m. Jan. 4. The Canton R-V Fire Protection District was dispatched to the Providence Baptist Church and supported by several other fire departments. The church and the parsonage, located on the church property, were both fully engulfed in flames. 

The church had a weekly congregation of 40-60 people. No firefighters or first responders were injured during fire suppression efforts.

Anyone with information regarding this fire should contact ATF at 888-ATF-TIPS (283-8477) or ATFTips@atf.gov, submit an anonymous tip through the “Reportit” app, available for Android and iPhone, or text ATFKC to 62975 and follow the prompts, or go to Lewis County Sheriff’s Office website at www.lewiscosheriff.org and submit a crime tip.