Federal and local officials are offering a large reward following a second arson at the same church in the past year.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, on July 2, the Bayou Baptist Church, located on Sullivan Drive in Slidell, was burned to the ground.
The fire was first report at around 7:30 a.m., and by the time firefighters were on scene, the church was engulfed in flames. Investigators determined the church was vacant and did not have electricity at the time of the blaze, due to the church undergoing repairs from a previous arson in October 2015.
The origin and cause led fire officials to declare both cases arson.
ATF and Crimestoppers Greater New Orleans are posting a combined reward of up to $10,000. Anyone with information about the fire at Bayou Baptist Church should call ATF at 1-888-ATF-FIRE (888-283-3473), Slidell Police Department at 1-985-646-4347 or Crimestoppers Greater New Orleans at 1-877-903-STOP.
ATF is the lead agency in the investigation.