Wasilla Bible Church burned, probably by arsonist

[Kitsune]

Sarah Palin's church burned down.....Already hearing the idea that it was a Hate Crime from Religious Conservatives.

According to Wiki The racial makeup of the city was 85.46% White, 0.59% Black or African American, 5.25% Native American, 1.32% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 1.32% from other races, and 5.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino were 3.68% of the population.

Likely, it was just a drunk if it was arson

[JLTucker]

Here's the entire article since Kitsune is too stupid to post it.

(CNN) -- A "suspicious" fire devastated the church attended by Alaska Gov. and former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin on Friday night in her hometown of Wasilla, the church's minister said.

"We have no idea what caused it," the Rev. Larry Kroon of the Wasilla Bible Church said Saturday, adding that investigators were considering arson and other possible causes.

A ladies' craft group was in the building when the fire broke out, but they got out safely, Kroon said.

"No one was hurt," he said.

Central Mat-Su Fire Department Chief James Steele said the department was "treating it as suspicious and as potential arson at this point" but did not elaborate, The Anchorage Daily News reported.

The newspaper said Palin released a statement after the fire in which she said she stopped by the church Saturday morning and offered an apology to the assistant pastor "if the incident is in any way connected to the undeserved negative attention the church has received since she became a vice presidential candidate."

Steele said that as many as 40 firefighters from his and neighboring departments fought the blaze, which started about 9:40 p.m. Friday (1:40 a.m. ET Saturday).

Firefighters were on the scene dealing with hot spots until about 5 a.m. Saturday, the Anchorage Daily News reported.

The metal church building, which normally accommodates Sunday congregations of up to 1,000 people, was heavily damaged by flames and smoke, Kroon said.

"The fire investigators and insurance people are there now. There's definitely a lot of damage. I've heard the figure of $1 million, but I don't know for sure," he said.

Kroon said he was not at the church when the fire broke out and would not discuss what any of the church members who were there had reported to him.

He would not specify how many people were in the building at the time of the blaze.

"They were all adults, and they all got out. We're trying not to talk about specifics while investigators are still working on finding out what happened."

Kroon said the nondenominational church, which he described as "just a local community church," is about 30 years old and the church building itself is about 2½ years old.

The pastor said church services would be held on schedule Sunday in a nearby school.

[Singular Intellect]

Why can't they accept this as god's will?

[Kitsune]

Here's the entire article since Kitsune is too stupid to post it.

Lets discuss the issue not my not posting the article and instead a link...
I am on several boards, some which don't want you to post the entire article....

[Darth Onasi]

Why can't they accept this as god's will?

It's only God's will if somebody else's building gets burned down.

[Broomstick]

Why can't they accept this as god's will?

Because God would never let such a thing happen to such nice people...!

[/sarcasm]

[Invictus ChiKen]

Kitsune around here it is required to post the full article if you got one on hand. Not trying to play mod but just wanted to let ya know.

So if this on purpose would it be: An attack on Palin? A hate crime based on religion? Or repercussions for the Church's actions?

[Edi]

Everyone fucks up every once in a while and this is an easy mistake to make, so no biggie unless it becomes a habit for him. In which case he'll be brought back in line. Thus endeth discussion on moderating that particular issue.

[Darth Raptor]

Since that place looks more like a refrigerated warehouse than a church, I'm not prepared to rule out faulty wiring just yet. Actually, scratch that. I'm going to say insurance fraud, considering the apparent standard of evidence surrounding this whole affair.

[Phantasee]

Since that place looks more like a refrigerated warehouse than a church, I'm not prepared to rule out faulty wiring just yet. Actually, scratch that. I'm going to say insurance fraud, considering the apparent standard of evidence surrounding this whole affair.

Haha, insurance fraud was my second guess too. Call it arson and collect the cheque, what's easier than that?

[Kitsune]

Arson only accounts for 2% of fires from USFA Fire Statistics

There were an estimated 1.6 million fires in 2007.
An estimated 32,500 intentionally set structure fires resulted in 295 civilian deaths.

[Count Chocula]

Alaska's got a pretty harsh climate, don'tcha know? Cold is very hard on things like plastic parts abd insulation, and it's possible the insulation on some wires cracked from the cold, causing a short and subsequent electrical fire.

My vote: accident.

[Kitsune]

It does seem to be arson

ATF Joins Church Arson Investigation
Mon Dec 15, 9:37 am ET

To: STATE EDITORS

Contact: SA Nick Starcevic, PIO of ATF, +1-206-389-5904

WASILLA, Ala., Dec. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Acting Special Agent in Charge Douglas R. Dawson, Seattle Field Division, of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) today announced that agents from the Anchorage Field Office joined the Wasilla Bible Church arson investigation.

On Dec. 13, 2008, the Central Mat-Su Fire Department and the Alaska State Fire Marshals Office contacted ATF Anchorage Field Office and requested assistance in investigating the fire that occurred on Dec. 12. The on-site investigation revealed an ignitable accelerant that had been poured on and around the exterior of the church in multiple locations, to include the entrances and exits. Evidence recovered from the fire scene was collected and retained by members of the Alaska State Crime Laboratory. The initial damage to the structure is estimated at about $500,000. No injuries have been reported.

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has been known to attend this church in the past. Governor Palin and her family attended the church the Sunday before her selection as the Republican Vice-Presidential Candidate.

"ATF will continue to work diligently alongside our local partners and will make every effort to find the person or persons responsible for this fire," said Dawson. "Most importantly, there were no injuries or deaths related to this incident."

This is an ongoing, joint investigation with the Central Mat-Su Fire Department, the Anchorage Fire Department, the Wasilla Police Department and the State Fire Marshals Office.

More information on ATF and its programs can be found at www.atf.gov.

CONTACT: SA Nick Starcevic, PIO, +1-206-389-5904

SOURCE Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

[Count Chocula]

I sit corrected. I guess the next question is, "qui bono?" It seems...odd that a minister would set fire to his own church, and with Palin's high approval ratings in Alaska it doesn't seem to be politically motivated.

[Phantasee]

I sit corrected. I guess the next question is, "qui bono?" It seems...odd that a minister would set fire to his own church, and with Palin's high approval ratings in Alaska it doesn't seem to be politically motivated.

Tell me how I can spin this into a "Palin's Reichstag" story.

[Broomstick]

High approval ratings does not rule out a disgruntled minority resorting to violence.

[Khaat]

The following dramatization is intended for humor, not to undermine the character, professionalism, or sensationalism of the ongoing [strike]news frenzy[/strike] investigation.

...and would not discuss what any of the church members who were there had reported to him.

"So we were thinkin' 'how can we keep Sarah in the public spotlight after the horrible things those nasty leftist-media said about her?' Marsha got up and said 'I've got the perfect thing on my snowmobile trailer, doncha know!' Before she got back, the place was on fire!"

The on-site investigation revealed an ignitable accelerant that had been poured on and around the exterior of the church in multiple locations, to include the entrances and exits.

The only way for the group on-site to have gotten out would be either incompetence or orchestration on the part of the arsonist. I wonder if they've been trying to raise money for a new church...?

[Kitsune]

I had a thought which almost contradicts my previous thoughts......
I know she has pissed off a variety of wildlife protection groups
How about PETA or one of their more militant "Partners"

[JointStrikeFighter]

I read the title as church burned down by airsoft