Kim Miller, a spokeswoman for Camp Butler on Okinawa. O.J. Simpson was in his element. A fire gutted a rural, predominantly white church hours after Vice President Al Gore spoke in the state about the rash of church fires across the South. The cause of the fire Thursday night at the God's Chapel Church was not immediately known. Authorities said they would investigate today to determine whether arson was involved.
Firefighters let the blaze burn itself out after the church's walls caved in.
The nondemoninational church, in this town about 55 miles northeast of Chattanooga, had close to 60 members. The building was less than a year old and was still under construction, officials said.