Fire officials in Clyde were unable to determine the cause of a fire that burned four structures near the House of Yahweh compound, according to Billy Dezern, chief of the Clyde Volunteer Fire Department.
It is known that the fire started inside one trailer and quickly spread to other structures, but Dezern said the trailer was so badly burned that they could not determine what started the blaze. There are no suspicions of foul play, he added.
Officials are hoping people will come forward with more information. Until then, Dezern said, the fire will be listed as having an undetermined cause.
The fire began around 1:30 p.m. Monday just off County Road 254 south of Clyde. Two recreational vehicles also burned, and two smaller vehicles - a car and a minivan - sustained heat damage.
House of Yahweh leader Yisrayl Hawkins said in a statement Monday that the fire was not on the church grounds and did not damage or destroy any church property.
The trailer home of Brock Fisher, a member of the sect, and his family was destroyed by the blaze. The mobile home was apparently not insured.
Fisher has said he expects other House of Yahweh members to come to his aid. A House of Yahweh pastor has offered to lend the family a mobile home.
