No new church fires reported this morning

Though fire and police officials cautioned area church leaders to be wary of more attacks on Clark County churches, no new structure fires were reported overnight.

The words of caution came after firefighters this week responded to two early morning suspicious church fires north of Vancouver.

Crews from Clark County Fire District 6 were called to the fires, which were both reported at about 3 a.m. on Wednesday and Thursday mornings.

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.

On Wednesday fire heavily damaged the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Hazel Dell. That fire was ruled an arson.

Crews from District 6 were likely experiencing deja vu when they were called to a fire at another church 24 hours later. A suspicious blaze at Liberty Bible Church of the Nazarene was extinguished by sprinklers.