UPDATED: Million-Dollar Arson Fire Hits Sarah Palin’s Church as Women Gather Inside
Read the Full Article at News2
After an arsonist ruined their church Friday night, members of the Wasilla Bible Church used their hope and faith to move forward. –
AP reports An accelerant was poured around the exterior of Gov. Sarah Palin’s
church before fire heavily damaged the building, federal investigators
said Monday. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
said the accelerant was poured at several locations around the church,
including entrances.
KTUU [AK, USA] reports (with video) Undeterred, they held Sunday services
at Wasilla Middle School. Cameras were not allowed inside, but the mood
was very positive, even thankful, despite the overwhelming sadness felt
by church goers.
AP reports Palin, the former Republican
vice presidential candidate, did not attend services Sunday because she was in Juneau preparing to propose a state budget,
said her spokesman, Bill McAllister. The congregation realizes the church is more than the building, said John Doak,
associate pastor at Wasilla Bible Church.
The Anchorage Daily News reports Firefighters were called to Wasilla Bible
Church about 9:40 p.m. and found flames and smoke coming out windows at
the back of the three-story structure, said James Steele, chief of the
Central Mat-Su Fire Department. Five women, and possibly a couple of children, were inside the church
working on crafts, but everyone got out safely after a fire alarm
alerted them to trouble, Steele said. It was the biggest fire the department has seen this year, and Steele
said as many as 35 to 40 volunteer firefighters came from across the
region to battle the blaze.
AP reports Gov. Sarah Palin’s home church was badly damaged by arson, leading
the governor to apologize if the fire was connected to “undeserved
negative attention” from her failed campaign as the Republican vice presidential nominee.
AFP reports “We are definitely treating it as suspicious and as potential arson at this point,” said James Steele, chief of the area fire department. “We just don’t have any leads at all as far as the intent or motive in this,” Steele said.
Damage
to the Wasilla Bible Church was estimated at $1 million, authorities
said Saturday. No one was injured in the fire, which was set Friday
night while a handful of people, including two children, were inside,
according to Central Mat-Su Fire Chief James Steele.
Townhall.com reports The fire was set at the entrance of the church and moved inward as a
small group of women were working on crafts, Steele said. The group was
alerted to the blaze by a fire alarm. Outside temperatures were minus 20 as firefighters battled the blaze.