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Arson suspected in fire at Palin's church
An overnight fire at Gov. Sarah Palin's church caused an estimated $1 million in damage, and investigators say it could be the work of an arsonist.Firefighters were called to Wasilla Bible Church about 9:40 p.m. Friday 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 were inside the church working on crafts, and possibly two children, but everyone escaped unharmed after a fire alarm alerted them to trouble, Steele said. It was a major fire, the biggest the department has seen this year, and Steele said volunteer firefighters from across the region came to fight the blaze. As many as 35 to 40 people responded, he said. Firefighters had to tear open wall spaces in the metal building to snuff out hotspots and were on the scene until after 5 a.m. today, Steele said. "We are definitely treating it as suspicious and as potential arson at this point," he said. Steele declined to provide details on why investigators believe the fire might have been set deliberately, or whether accelerants were found on the scene. The building is worth between $4 million and $5 million, and sustained an estimated $1 million in damage, he said. A task force has been formed to investigate including people from the state fire marshal's office, the Central Mat-Su Fire Department, the Wasilla Police Department and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Anchorage Fire Department also sent out an investigator. Posted by: Fred 2008-12-14 |
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