Arson Fire at Byron Methodist Church Under Investigation

On Tuesday night, August 20, 2024, a Byron police officer detected smoke near Main Street in Byron. The officer traced the smoke to the Byron Methodist Church on West Heritage Drive. The Byron and Peach County Fire Departments responded to the scene. The fire was determined to be arson.

Byron Police Investigators have partnered with the State Fire Marshal, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) to investigate the incident. A suspect, Luke Westfield, has been identified and was taken into custody by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office in Columbia County, GA.

The investigation is ongoing, and no further information is being released at this time. Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the Byron Police Department at 478-956-2493, the Macon Regional Crimestoppers, or the State Fire Marshal’s Office.