From Deseret News archives:
Arson blamed in church fire
Around 10:40 p.m., smoke billowed from the attic of a meetinghouse at 451 S. Main owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said Lt. Dave Caron, from the Springville department of public safety.
"The fire started at the stage front (in the gym area), then got into the conduit system, which gave it access to run up the wall and into the attic," Caron said Saturday.
Caron estimated that the church sustained about $200,000 worth of damage, but not all of the damage was caused by the fire. In fact, except for a broken window and a lingering smell surrounding the building, no evidence of fire could be seen from the outside.
On the inside, however, the church was severely vandalized with fire extinguishers, doors were broken and televisions were smashed.
"It really is a senseless tragedy," Caron said. " I don't think I'll ever understand why people do what they do."
Caron said whoever started the fire probably entered through a window on the second story. All of the locks on the building have already been re-keyed to give only designated church officials access to the entrances.
According to Caron, it is hard to estimate how long the building will be closed while the damage is appraised.
"It's going to be awhile," Caron said. "It's ugly in there."
The building, built in 1913, was remodeled for approximately $1.5 million in 1998. After the remodeling was completed, LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley visited the site to rededicate it for worship.
The fire "is troubling," said Ryan Johnston, a local LDS Church member who is assigned to monitor church buildings in the vicinity. "It worries me to think there are these kinds of kids out there looking for this kind of destruction. I don't know why they'd target the church."
Caron said a large amount of evidence was removed from the building and has been taken to the state crime lab.
"We're following up on leads," Caron said. "Sometimes it takes awhile to solve these things, but quite often they do get solved, so I'm going to remain hopeful."
E-mail: achoate@desnews.com
Recent comments
It was a tragedy to me to see this building gone. It was standing at...
Judy King | Aug. 3, 2008 at 1:44 p.m.
- Secret Pentagon e-mails 10:29 a.m.
- India to slow carbon emissions 10:26 a.m.
- Continental sees delays 10:23 a.m.
- Senate casts 1st health care votes 10:21 a.m.
- AP: Karzai willing to talk to Taliban 10:15 a.m.
- Girl dies when mattress falls on her 10:12 a.m.
- Putin lashes out at Khodorkovsky 10:06 a.m.
- Unintended victim of protests 10:01 a.m.
- Holiday television program listings 9:58 a.m.
- Rome unveils ancient luxury complex 9:57 a.m.
- Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
- Mitchell said to share LeBaron traits
- Unbeaten BYU takes trip to Logan
- Teen girl killed in Kaysville crash
- Miles is back, but others still out
- BCS just keeps dirty laundry on spin
- MWC awaits bowl destinations
- Phoenix vote on temple Wednesday
- 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
- Utahns growing tired of Bennett
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
916 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
483 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
406 - Max Hall issues apology
393 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
359 - Utes won't respond to Hall
278 - Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
255 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
244 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
184 - Religion in politics is tiresome
154
If you want to learn what it's like to be an astronaut on the...
First, a big thank you to all who posted questions here for me to ask...
I agree with the letter. It really isn't a big deal.
The question is not who can or cannot get married. The question is what is...
I love the logic that Cougar fans have. I have started applying this to the...
USU deserved the win. They are working harder and they have more class! They...
And i have to laugh every time I read something like what you wrote....
This could happen to anyone...how very, very sad!
On the one hand - it does seem to be a tempest in a teapot. The media feeding...
BR, (I am sorry self professed Master of the Universe) , guess you get ugly...
BYU hadn't been there since 2005 and it showed the young cougs couldn't...
Now we all know why Dave rose wont come play the aggies on a 1 and 1. He...




