Sarah Palin Church Fire: Palin's Home Church Burned In Arson Incident

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Gov. Sarah Palin's home church was badly damaged by arson, leading the governor to apologize if the fire was connected to "undeserved negative attention" from her failed campaign as the Republican vice presidential nominee.

Damage to the Wasilla Bible Church was estimated at $1 million, authorities said Saturday. No one was injured in the fire, which was set Friday night while a handful of people, including two children, were inside, according to Central Mat-Su Fire Chief James Steele.

He said the blaze was being investigated as an arson but didn't know of any recent threats to the church. Authorities didn't know whether Palin's connection to the church was relevant to the fire, Steele said.

"It's hard to say at this point. Everything is just speculation," he said. "We have no information on intent or motive."

Steele would not comment on the means used to set the fire.

Pastor Larry Kroon declined to say whether the church had received any recent threats.

"There are so many variables," he said. "I don't want to comment in that direction."

Palin, who was not at the church at the time of the fire, stopped by Saturday. Her spokesman, Bill McAllister, said in a statement that Palin told an assistant pastor she was sorry if the fire was connected to the "undeserved negative attention" the church has received since she became the vice presidential candidate Aug. 29.

"Whatever the motives of the arsonist, the governor has faith in the scriptural passage that what was intended for evil will in some way be used for good," McAllister said.

The 1,000-member evangelical church was the subject of intense scrutiny after Palin was named John McCain's running mate. Early in Palin's campaign, the church was criticized for promoting in a Sunday bulletin a Focus on the Family "Love Won Out Conference" in Anchorage. The conference promised to "help men and women dissatisfied with living homosexually understand that same-sex attractions can be overcome."

The fire was set at the entrance of the church and moved inward as a small group of women were working on crafts, Steele said. The group was alerted to the blaze by a fire alarm.

Outside temperatures were minus 20 as firefighters battled the blaze.

Steele said a multi-agency task force was being assembled to investigate the fire.

Wasilla, the governor's hometown, is 40 miles north of Anchorage.

Comments

[BlackYowe]

This is a grave matter no matter how horrible Palin is. There were people in the building when the fire was set. Arson is not to be taken lightly.

[kevenseven]

And it likely was a firebug with no political motives.

[AndyDandy]

I hate everything Sarah Palin stands for, but i'm glad no one was injured.

[Pancake]

Horrible. Glad everyone is ok. My prayers are with the congregation.

[DMSmith]

Everyone is assuming it's arson - prior that having been determined. It may have been, but let's cool our jets in the meantime/

[Ramirez]

Yes. Fires happen, even outside in snow in minus 20 degree weather.

[kevenseven]

Um. People. There are loony firebugs all the world over who would do this just for the thrill.

There is no reason to think this is political.

And if it is, I as a Liberal have no responsibility for it.

Whoever did this should get prison time. End of story.

[fouroclock]

No reason to think this is political? It may not be the reason but its very logical to think that it could be.

[katherine2]

I found Palin's apologizing for the fire " if it was connected to undeserved negative attention" an inflammatory kind of remark (pardon the pun) along with being incredibly self centered and defensive. During her campaigning in the lower 48, she was know to have unleashed rage with the crowds, and so perhaps she feels something similar may have followed her back to Alaska. But her framing of the church burning is predictable -there's not a whole lot of logic to it and it shows how a personal festering reveals itself publicly. I'm sorry the incident happened an am glad no one was harmed, but Palin spewing out her defense while in the same breath attacking is a little hard to bear.

[tfred]

Anything Sarah Pallin can say or do to divide this nation, she will do. What an ego to think that the arsonist had a personal vendetta against her and that's the cause of the burning. It could easily have been a disgruntled architect who objects to churches designed as if they were gas stations from the '50's.

[fireW]

Why wouldn't this just be an "act of God"? Oh, right, acts of god only happen when they say they happen.

[janmarbol]

fascism is never good... on either side
i don't like the lady, i'm not religious, but this is just WRONG!

[kevenseven]

Are you jumping to some conclusion that somebody did this as a political act?

[katherine2]

Sarah Palin is the one who first asserted that.

[drund]

Umm...I wish I could feel bad for them...but I just simply cannot.

[fem56]

Very sad. I hope it was not arson. Even though I do not agree this brand of Christianity everyone this is tragic and I say a prayer for the chuch community.

[robotkiller]

Not cool.

[sansho1]

My sentiments exactly, and I've got no love for Palin or patience for religion.

[Mrjonz]

Central Mat-Su Fire Chief James Steele, “It’s hard to say at this point. Everything is just speculation," he said. "We have no information on intent or motive."

So, one might say that us of the word "Arson" in the headline could be deemed somewhat inflammatory, no?

[ConfuciusSay-]

By definition, arson is always "inflammatory".

[loper2008]

I doubt it has anything to do with Sarah, but I'm not surprised she would think so. She has a huge ego.

[ashbachj]

Burning churches is dumb. It didn't work in Norway and it's not going to work anywhere else. You can't defeat ideas with death and destruction. You can only defeat ideas with logic and reason.

[racetoinfinity]

correct, but you mean MYTHS, not ideas.

[fouroclock]

Palin is entitled to her ideas just as you are.

[lisa12345]

good point