Annette Klinefelter, executive director of Daybreak Youth Services, said it appeared that someone broke an outside window into a room on the back of the building, threw a gas can inside and lit it on fire. She said the fire was promptly extinguished.
“Fortunately, the damage was so minimal that it is not going to significantly delay the project,” Klinefelter said of the new treatment center. She added that renovation plans already included installing windows that can’t be broken.
Daybreak Youth Services is a nonprofit providing residential treatment for teens with chemical dependency problems. The 30,000-square-foot church is being turned into a residential treatment facility with at least 11 beds.
“We’re undergoing cleanup, maximizing security in our building and moving forward with God’s grace,” Klinefelter said Sunday afternoon.
The Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating Sunday’s fire and two recent church fires as connected arsons, according to the sheriff’s office.
At about 3 a.m. Wednesday, a fire struck the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Hazel Dell. At about the same time the following morning, a fire was reported at Liberty Bible Church of the Nazarene in the Salmon Creek area.
“It’s really, really sad that churches are being the target of anger in our community. … You just want it to stop,” Klinefelter said.
Clark County Fire Marshal Jon Dunaway urged continued vigilance from the community and places of worship.
“Be alert and report anything suspicious or unusual,” he said in a statement. “It may be a small detail that makes the difference in solving these cases. Also, make sure access points are secured, exterior areas are illuminated, and fire systems are in working order.”
Anyone with information about the fires is asked to call 911; the Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office at 360-397-2186, ext. 3321; or the sheriff’s office at 360-397-6079.
A reward of up to $10,000 may be available for information leading to an arrest.
