Arson suspected in second Vancouver-area church fire

Arriving firefighters discovered that an object had been thrown through a rear window of the church’s preschool area, starting a fire that triggered a number of sprinklers. The fire was out, but the water had caused extensive damage to the lower level of the two-story church, Schmitke said.

The large church, which is about 20 years old, is a landmark in the area. The building sits on 5 acres and is easily seen from Interstate 205 northbound just before the Northeast 134th Street exit.

A half-dozen rooms on the ground floor of the building were damaged, including the preschool, a nursery, a room for children with special needs and a room for seniors. The building, which had extensive remodeling done a few years ago, is fully insured, and restoration work already has begun, administrative pastor Johnnie Pesacreta said.

“I would say most people are surprised and shocked to hear that it had happened,” he said. “The good news is that the building’s fire systems did exactly what they’re designed to do.”

He said that a service will be held Sunday for the church’s 500 to 600 members. Other scheduled activities, though, should be double-checked at the church’s website, www.lbnaz.org.

“We’re praying for the individual that did this,” Pesacreta said. “We’re praying for them that they would be held accountable but more importantly that they get the help they need.”

Hazel Dell fire

Pesacreta said that the congregation also is praying for the First Congregational United Church of Christ. Fire officials announced Thursday that the fire at the Hazel Dell church was determined to be an arson. It caused an estimated $630,000 in damage to the building and about $1.2 million to its contents, bringing the total damage to just over $2 million.

The three-alarm fire at that church, which since 1961 has towered over Hazel Dell’s Highway 99 commercial strip, started on the outside of the church, Schmitke said.

A reward of up to $10,000 has been offered for information in that fire. Call 800-55-ARSON.

Church moderator Ken Rowe said that the congregation has received appreciated support from area churches, including one that offered its use of its facilities. Rowe said that service Sunday will be held outside the damaged sanctuary, but that the location of future events is still up in the air.

The church is taking donations to help with the restoration costs through a GoFundMe account, www.gofundme.com/VancouverUCC.

The Clark County Fire Marshal and the Clark County sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit are investigating both fires as arson, although the sheriff’s office said it has not confirmed whether the two fires are related. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is aiding in the investigation.

Two months ago

A third church in the area was the target of arson about two months ago.

A pulpit inside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2223 N.W. 99th St., was destroyed in a fire around 7 a.m. April 8. Two teenage boys were arrested Tuesday on suspicion of arson and booked into the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center, Clark County Sheriff’s Sgt. Fred Neiman said.

Court records said deputies caught up with the boys following a separate vandalism call.

They later admitted to a deputy that they broke one of the church’s windows and, while inside, set a stack of books on fire using some lighter fluid, according to court records.

Precautions urged

This week’s church fires involved large churches visible from a freeway.

In a news release, Clark County Fire Marshal Jon Dunaway implored church leaders and patrons to be aware and exercise additional precautions, such as ensuring church perimeters have adequate lighting, especially near doors and windows, that access points are securely latched, and that fire alarms and fire-suppression equipment are functioning properly.

Sheriff Chuck Atkins encouraged places of worship to remain vigilant.

“I would urge all those responsible for church buildings to review your security procedures and to specifically make sure that any video surveillance equipment is in good working order,” Atkins said in a statement. “I would also ask that our citizens who live near a house of worship be extra vigilant and report suspicious people or vehicles to 911.”

Anyone with information regarding the two fires also can call the Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office at 360-397-2186, ext. 3321, or the Clark County Sheriff’s Office at 360-397-6079.

Metro Editor Craig Brown contributed to this story.