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Two Arrested in Arson Fires

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DOVER, Del. (AP) - Two Delaware men have been arrested on arson charges in fires at three churches in the Felton area, all in a four-hour period.

The Delaware State Fire Marshal's Office says the first fire happened around 2 a.m. Dec. 2 at the Healing Hands Christian Church, which was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived.

As crews battled that blaze, another fire was reported at the Manship Chapel. The last fire came at 5:30 a.m. at the Laws Mennonite Church. 

Deputy fire marshals arrested 26-year-old Alex Harrington Jr. of Frederica and 25-year-old Joseph Skochelak of Dover on three counts each of arson, burglary and conspiracy. It's unclear whether they have attorneys.

The damage to all three churches is estimated at $86,000 total, with the bulk at Healing Hands. No one was injured.

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.