Montgomery, Ala. ? Fires damaged or destroyed four more Baptist churches Tuesday across the Alabama countryside, less than a week after a string of five blazes that were ruled arson.

Rich Marianos, a spokesman for the federal Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agency, said more than 50 agents were assigned to the case in Alabama.

“This is our No. 1 priority nationally,” he said.

Tuesday’s fires took place at churches off rural roads, about 10 to 20 miles apart, west of the capital, Montgomery. They were in a cluster of three counties, about 60 miles from the Bibb County area where the five other churches were burned early Friday.