It was the scene of the controversial Ku Klux Klan burning 20 years ago. On Tuesday night, the same church - the Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church in the city of Greeleyville in South Carolina -went up in flames once more.
Police authorities have yet to establish the cause of the fire that hit this historical church, which could be the third among the rash of fires involving churches in the U.S. south with a majority of African-Americans in its congregation, according to Reuters
Among the seven arson cases, two were established as deliberate, according to the publication.
The fire was under control shortly after midnight according to the Clarendon County Fire Department. The fire department indicated that roof of the church had completely collapsed.
"The fire is currently under investigations and the cause of the fire is unknown," Williamsburg County Sheriff spokesman Alex Edwards said, according to NBC News.
Williamsburg County Fire Chief Randy Swinton told NBC News that they are still determining the cause of the blaze noting that that a lightning storm passed through the area.
Although there were no injuries, Greeleyville Mayor Jessie Parker said the state Law Enforcement Division and the U.S. Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms investigators were on site targeting that by morning an explanation for the blaze could be established.
Tuesday's fire would be at least the seventh blaze since the shooting by Dylann Roof - an attack that stoked a review of race relations across the country.
