Gahanna church fire ruled possible arson

Columbus United Baptist Church in Gahanna sustained heavy damage from a fire that began near midnight on Thursday, October 29. Fire officials believe the blaze was set intentionally.

Firefighters arrived at 6046 Taylor Road around 12:30 a.m. and worked for nearly two hours to extinguish the flames. The building suffered extensive fire, smoke, and water damage.

Beverly Thompson, wife of Pastor Jimmy Thompson, said the church had been broken into between Sunday afternoon and Wednesday. She and her husband discovered the intrusion around noon on Wednesday while meeting a water softener installer. They found a broken window in the lower-level dining area and a garden hose running against the front doors. Water had flowed down the steps and into two restrooms and the furnace room.

A sheriff’s deputy filed a report on the initial break-in. The couple received a second call from the Franklin County Fire/Sheriff Communication Center shortly after midnight on Thursday regarding the fire.

Thompson stated that fire crew leaders believe the fire was set. Investigators are searching for the point of origin and checking for accelerants. She described the situation as an active investigation that could take days or weeks to resolve.

The Ohio State Association of Free Will Baptists confirmed the incident, noting that the church had recently voted Jimmy Thompson in as pastor. The association said the congregation will not be able to use the building for quite some time. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.