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ORANGE, Texas — A major fire destroyed El Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Orange early Tuesday morning, devastating a congregation that has served the community for more than seven decades. Federal investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are now assisting in the investigation, according to 12News.
Firefighters were dispatched at 12:51 a.m., Orange Fire Department Deputy Chief Payton Smith said. Flames engulfed the church building on 12th Street, prompting an extensive multi-agency response that included crews from the West Orange Fire Department, Emergency Services District Four in Little Cypress and ESD 1 in Bridge City. No injuries were reported.
Pastor Rickey Guillory, who has led the congregation for 15 years, said he learned of the fire when a
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