Arson suspected in Centerville church fire

The fire was first reported about 2:30 a.m. Friday, when someone

driving by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' chapel at

620 N. 100 East, Centerville, spotted flames and called 911.

"The passerby saw the fire, had a fire extinguisher, stopped and

extinguished it from the outside," said South Davis Metro Fire Deputy

Chief Jeff Bassett.

Firefighters responded within two minutes to help extinguish the

blaze. The fire melted portions of a shatter-resistant window made of a

combination of glass and plastic, but flames were blocked from

spreading by fire resistant curtains inside the church, firefighters

said.

"We didn't really have any damage inside the building, just a lot of smoke," Bassett said.

Damage to the building is estimated at about $2,000. Investigators

were on the scene of the fire on Friday morning, looking over the

scorched areas of the brick building and questioning the passerby, who

was returning home from work.

A search of the building itself did not yield any more clues, Bassett said.

"The investigators looking at it feel it was intentionally set," he said. "It was a small fire, but it was intentionally set."

Police did not have any suspects as of Friday, but South Davis Metro

Fire said anyone with information is urged to call them at 801-677-2400.

E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com