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Fire damages roof of ENC church amid thunderstorms that caused downed power lines

PRE News & Ideas | By Annette Weston

Published July 6, 2023 at 10:10 AM EDT

Authorities say the initial assessment showed the fire at Fulcher's Red Fox Stables was suspicious in nature and the investigation is now being treated as an arson and murder. — Damaging thunderstorms snapped power poles and downed limbs in several areas of eastern North Carolina Wednesday afternoon and caused a fire at a Greenville church and a power outage for about 1,500 customers.

Damaging thunderstorms snapped power poles and downed limbs in several areas of eastern North Carolina Wednesday afternoon and caused a fire at a Greenville church and a power outage for about 1,500 customers.

Officials with the Greenville Police Department said the roof of Parker's Free Will Baptist Church caught on fire from a downed power line just before 5 p.m.

Highway 264 was closed in both directions from Hastings Ford through Old Pactolus Road as crews worked to clear the downed lines and put out the fire.

Officials say damage to the church was minimal.

Annette Weston

Annette is originally a Midwest gal, born and raised in Michigan, but with career stops in many surrounding states, the Pacific Northwest, and various parts of the southeast. An award-winning journalist and mother of four, Annette moved to eastern North Carolina in 2019 to be closer to family – in particular, her two young grandchildren. It’s possible that a -27 day with a -68 windchill in Minnesota may have also played a role in that decision. In her spare time, Annette does a lot of kiddo cuddling, reading, and producing the coolest Halloween costumes anyone has ever seen. She has also worked as a diversity and inclusion facilitator serving school districts and large corporations. It’s the people that make this beautiful area special, and she wants to share those stories that touch the hearts of others. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.

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