Authorities are eyeing foul play in the razing of the Consolacion Baptist Church, which is believed by the locals to be haunted.

According to Butler County Sheriff Kenny Harden, they are investigating the cause of the fire, but they suspect that it was not accidental.

"We do suspect foul play. We've had several arrests over the years of people breaking in and there are rumors that it is haunted so kids go there on the weekends," he said.

Based on reports, the fire was discovered at around 9:30 am Monday 16 February. While firefighters tried to extinguish the fire, it was already too late as the structure was already burned to the ground.

Harden said that the church was not in use and there was no one injured in the incident. The church graveyard was also unaffected.

The Alabama Fire State Marshall's Office has been called in to assist in the investigation.

The Consolacion Baptist Church on Oakey Streak Road near Red Level, is one of the famous landmarks among paranormal investigators who visit Butler County.

Some of the stories surrounding the church involve shrieking banshees that herald the death of someone inside the church, visions of hellhounds with bloodshot eyes roaming the lot, ghosts riding supernatural Ford pickups, and even two children who lure visitors by playing with them, then subsequently causing their deaths.

The church's history, with the grounds holding graves that date back to the Confederacy, has also been a source of ghost stories and locals tell of dead soldiers marching the grounds.

Another story involves the outhouse where the door mysteriously shuts on anyone who enters. The person can supposedly only be freed if someone from the outside opens the door.

The stories have made the church a regular hangout of vandals who want a good scare but so far, none of the stories have been proved.