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.
- MLS: Dynamo, Galaxy advance 9:21 p.m.
- Utahns split over war in Afghanistan 9:21 p.m.
- Probe heating up in the rampage 9:16 p.m.
- Health-care bill could sink in Senate 9:15 p.m.
- Hope for single moms 9:14 p.m.
- Utah Jazz Extra: Starting Five 9:12 p.m.
- Photos: Fall fun in the sun 9:12 p.m.
- Utah Jazz Extra: Whose hot/not 9:11 p.m.
- Heritage foundation names advocate 9:11 p.m.
- Poignant holiday for WWII veteran 9:10 p.m.
- Gay advocates trek to LDS office
216 - House passes health care bill
195 - Lobo suspended
173 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
150 - Speed has never been BYU's game
136 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
125 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - Thousands protest health bill
102 - Provo company innovating engines
99 - BYU cuts Women's Research Institute
88
Why do so many people live so close to refineries in Utah and elsewhere?
NASA's Stardust probe continues to bring new knowledge about the nature...
Doesn't if make you feel the least bit guilty to force your neighbors to pay...
The latest affirmative action election is a painful lesson. Next time let's...
Fool me once - Shame on you Fool me twice - Shame on me Fool me three times...
nice half time adjustments.
will be the hottest ticket going this weekend. You better get there early or...
I just want to give a shout out to all the commentators on the radio this...
Pagan: The APA and AAP have made some statements that are known to be...
We are going to whip you UTES like a rented mule this Saturday!
How ridiculous. It's not even a trashy nose ring, she has it because it's a...
Traded in my daughters gas guzzling clunker for a compact car. Best...


