Initial tests at the scene led investigators believe that the church fire which broke out on Nov. 1, 2009, around 9:59 p.m., may have been caused by an accelerant. Officials said that Saturday’s results from the state crime laboratory have disproved this theory. Brown stated that the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Fire, and police departments have no reason not to believe the fire was accidental. Brown stated in an email Saturday that fire can be started intentionally without the use of fuel or lighter fluids. After first responders found the words “Vote Trump”, on the side of Hopewell Baptist Church’s building, the fire at Hopewell Baptist Church last week made national headlines. Greenville Mayor Errick Simmons declared the following morning that the FBI would investigate the fire as hate crime. Brown stated that another item found at the scene would be examined by the state crime laboratory next week, but did not give any further information. GoFundMe’s online fundraising campaign raised $257,467 for church repairs by Saturday afternoon. According to Katherine Cichy (GoFundMe spokesperson), the sum was made possible by more than 7,000 donations from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as 29 other countries.