Another church fire in rural Alabama has been found to be arson, raising the number to 10 in 10 days and balancing the losses on a racial basis.

Five of the congregations whose buildings were damaged or destroyed are predominantly white and five predominantly black, the Associated Press reported, answering a question never far from the surface in the South.

The arsonists are assumed to be local or at least able to navigate in the dark between isolated churches in Bibb County, southwest of Birmingham, where nearly all of the fires occurred.

Beaverton Freewill Baptist Church in Beaverton, Ala., on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006. The church in rural Alabama is the 10th to burn this month. (AP Photo/ Birmingham News, Mark Almond)
Beaverton Freewill Baptist Church in Beaverton, Ala., on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006. The church in rural Alabama is the 10th to burn this month. (AP Photo/ Birmingham News, Mark Almond)

However, the latest blaze broke out in daylight and in a different part of the state.

The Beaverton Freewill Baptist Church, in northwest Alabama near the Mississippi line, was engulfed by flames on Saturday afternoon. The fire was ruled arson on Sunday.

There was no indication of the motive. Officials have been quoted as saying they are looking for two white men in a dark SUV, but only as one of many lines of investigation.