Greelyville, SOUTH CAROLINA — The Mt. Zion AME Church in Williamsburg County was on fire and the roof collapsed Tuesday night, according to local reports.
The cause of the fire is unknown.
Emergency crews responded to fight the blaze but the building appears to be a total loss.
Mark Keel of ‘SLED’ (State Law Enforcement Division) told the Post and Courier that authorities have notified the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives about the situation.
The church’s previous structure burned in 1995 as a result of arson during a spate of about 30 fires that swept black churches in Southern states at the time.
Then President Bill Clinton spoke at the new church structure in 1996 days before its official dedication to call for racial unity in the United States.
Greeleyville is small town in rural Williamsburg County in the eastern part of the state.
