Sevierville church thrift store fire was arson

A fire that destroyed a church-run thrift store last week in Sevierville was intentionally set.

Investigators say a police dog from Maryville sniffed out some type of accelerant, and now that and other evidence is on its way to the TBI.

The fire started Friday night and destroyed the thrift store building and everything inside it. Finding out who set it, and why, is a priority for Sevierville police. "Any time you have a large fire of course it's going to be important but the fact that it was at a church facility makes it even more disturbing to us," said Sevierville Police Department Captain Bob Stahlke.

The TBI will analyze evidence from the fire. Police are looking for a suspect. And church members would like to talk to that person, too.

Pastor Jerry Graham of New Hope Church said, "If I could find the person who did it I would invite them to come in the the Restoration House because the Restoration House, what we teach there is what would change their life so they won't have the anger to set a fire."

The fire destroyed the thrift store that funds New Hope Restoration House. It is a faith-based addiction recovery program. Twenty-to-30 men spend nine months in the program and graduate with a new attitude. Keeping the men clothed, fed, housed and instructed isn't cheap. So when the thrift store burned, the church set up a temporary thrift tent in the old store's parking lot.

Graham isn't surprised by the response. "It has been drop off after drop off after drop off and we've got tractor trailers full."

He is full of faith that the ministry will thrive despite the fire.

Police hope evidence leads them to whoever is responsible.

"Without any suspects which we don't have, we really don't have any motive either to go on," said Captain Stahlke.

While investigators search for answers, New Hope Church looks for a new thrift store location, possibly twice the size of the old one.

"It won't surprise me because God just does bigger and better things," said Graham.

If you have any information about the crime, you can reach the Sevierville Fire Department at 865-453-9276.