Fires at 5 St. Louis-area churches in a week deemed suspicious

ST. LOUIS -- Fire officials say fires set at five St. Louis-area churches in little more than a week are all suspicious and likely are connected.

The fifth fire was reported early Saturday at the New Life Missionary Baptist Church in northwest St. Louis. It damaged the front door and vinyl facade of the one-story frame church.

Fire Capt. Garon Mosby says all five of the fires have suspicious origins. Local and federal arson detectives are investigating.

The first fire, on Oct. 8, caused similar damage to Bethel Nondenominational Church in Jennings, about a half-mile from Saturday's fire.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported the three other fires, also apparently set at front doors, occurred at churches within a few blocks of each other.