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A 12-year-old has been identified as the sole suspect in two fires set inside Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, according to Marblehead police and fire officials.
The first fire was reported around 11:42 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, when Marblehead police and firefighters responded to the church at 85 Atlantic Ave. for smoke in a bathroom. Fire crews quickly extinguished the blaze, and no damage was reported.
Officials said a similar fire occurred a week earlier on Sept. 21. In both cases, the fires were small, quickly contained and caused no permanent damage.
The incidents were investigated by Marblehead police and fire, with assistance from the Massachusetts State Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Investigators determined the fires were intentionally set.
“We take all fire incidents seriously, no matter how small, and are grateful for the teamwork that helped us bring this case to a swift resolution,” Fire Chief Jason Gilliland said in a statement. “We are thankful to the parish staff for their vigilance, and to our partners in law enforcement who assisted in this investigation.”
Police Chief Dennis King said the incidents appear to be isolated and emphasized there is no ongoing threat to the parish or the broader community.
“We are ever vigilant to protect our places of worship and appreciate the assistance of our public safety partners and the church staff to identify the individual responsible and hold them accountable,” King said.
Because the case involves a juvenile, authorities said no additional information will be released.
