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

[Acleacius]

Since arson is on the table, was this one of the churches under investigation for Religious exemption by using the church for political reasons? Did the fire start near the tax records and how much was their insurance policy?

These are the people that say the big guy causes natural disasters to punish other religions, races and gays, right?

Since no one was hurt, humor?
Where was the witchdoctor? Everyone over 5 in NV should need to give a alibi and let not forget the big guy (natural disaster), maybe he was pissed about something said in this church?

[Chbronze]

I knew I could count on at least one blame the victim, of course this would have never come up it it were a small black church in Alabama. Thanks Acleacius for not letting me down. Most of the rest of the blog is respectful which I find reassuring.

[Troutboi]

Theres no excuse for this kind of behavior. Where folks like her or not, this isn't how anyone should behave. One's Church is their business.

[Vurz]

We should be thankful that the women were warned by the fire alarm and able to leave the building.

My fervent hope is that whoever set this fire is caught, tried for arson and attempted murder and given the maximum sentence allowable by law. People were inside that building, if the fire alarm had malfunctioned or the fire had burned in a different pattern those people could very easily have been killed.

Shame on Sarah Palin for trying to make this "all about her". It was common knowledge that she hadn't been to that church in a long time, whatever the sick individual's thoughts about the arson were, I doubt she entered into it.

[brynn6]

I saw a documentary a few months ago about fighting fires in sub-zero conditions and it's much more difficult that I ever imagined. That being said, the documentary also said that there are a lot of fires in those conditions because of carelessness. There could be a lot of reasons for this fire that don't involve arson.

[DCinFrance]

I can't speak for Wasilla of course, but arson fires are plain and evident from what my firefighter buddies have told me. There's almost always an accelerator involved and that can be detected immediately.

[BartLA]

Sarah Palin and her rightwing religious theology disgust me. But it's no reason to burn down her church. And the fact there were people inside at the time is appalling. This is not right. You don't fight fire with literal fire.

If this fire was politically motivated, then whoever set it is FAR WORSE than that which they were fighting against. I am a liberal and I have no tolerance for violence or unlawful retribution.

[eden4barack08]

I am a liberal and I have no tolerance for violence or unlawful retribution."



You say that as if you were unique to it. Remember that it is the right wing which is historically famous for intolerance, violence and unlawfulness, not liberals.



Arson, is WRONG no matter who did it or why.

[Smirk]

Hear, hear!

[poco767c]

I am as terrified of Sarah Palin as the next sane person, but this is not funny. People could have been seriously hurt. I don't know if it was political or not, but this is unacceptable behavior.

[Smirk]

Agreed.

[marthlois]

I'm deeply sorry for all members of this Chuch.
Whatever our political pursuasion....and that should go without
saying, sadly......I think we should all I hope no one was harmed
and that the person who is so full of hate is caught and put in jail.
These kinds of crimes need to stop. It's so sad.

[notb observer]

Too bad ole' Ted Stevens isn't in the Senate anymore... He could have rustled up a million dollars of pork to rebuild that church to nowhere with just a couple of calls.

[eden4barack08]

Sarah ain't so shabby herself with pork, she'll manage to get it back up in no time.

[eden4barack08]

"undeserved negative attention"?

Why does she thing it's undeserved, if she's getting any attention at all?

[Mellenbal]

Well, it is all about her, yanno.

[DCinFrance]

Yeah, any attention whatsoever she is getting is undeserved.

[jingles32]

My feelings regarding Palin's candidacy and her church aside, this is simply not acceptable, and my heart goes out to the church's members. I hope (if it is a case of arson) the criminals are caught and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Thankfully, no one was injured, or worse.

But yeah, my first thought after reading her reaction was that yet again, it's all about her. I find it despicable that she would "use" this tragedy to shine the spotlight upon herself, as a talking point/weapon against those who opposed her and her smear/slash/burn campaign tactics.

[some-realtalk]

Is this incident going to become the rallying cry of the Republicans?! We all know they are going to try to find some way to expolit the incident for political purposes.

[AndyDandy]

Why do you think Sarah Palin apologized? She's already blaming Democrats.

[Craniumdude]

As despicable or horrendous as this act was.......there is no question that this will become a major talking point that the SIT ON THEIR *SS MEDIA will put to the forefront of their diatribe of fear and divisiveness. And when they do spew forth those words of blame and hate and fear mongering, it will be almost as despicable as the actual arson itself!

[publicmenace]

I think in her own impenetrable way Palin was saying her church was getting the undeserved negative attention.

[insanityfollows]

I may think their beliefs are a little wacky, but they are free to practice what they believe, as am I, and there is no excuse in the world acceptable for arson. Period. To think that it was set with people inside, too! Terrible. I hope they are able to pull themselves back together. A shameful act. Truly.

[mdlw]

You are correct, there is no excuse for arson and I am truly grateful no one was injured. And I agree with you regarding freedom of religion. But, Palin does not. Please check out the site http://www.talk2action.org/story/2008/11/5/13585/8320/ if you don't believe me. Hear from the leader of her prayer group.

[iwantpie]

Agreed. Just like Sarah Palin I'm a Pentecostal christian, but a Democratic who believes in love thee neighbor as thee self and think it wrong despite our difference to burn down anyone church or churches in general. For this who ever did it will be going to Hell unless s(he) confuses and ask God for forgiveness.

[mdlw]

I am surprised Palin did not say it was the work of demons and witchcraft. Please check at the site below.

http://www.talk2action.org/story/2008/11/5/13585/8320/

[verworn]

and no, "Burn here, burn now" jokes either!

[verworn]

I think Palin is an idiot, and religiously I am agnostic, but anytime, anyone maliciously defiles or destroys someones place of worship or symbol of faith, regardless of who it is, it is total bullsh*t and they need to be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

My thoughts are with the church's "family" and may Sarah and her congregation come together to pull through this trying time to support one another.

With great freedoms come great responsibilities. Tolerance of those who we may disagree with is a practice that we must refine daily as individuals.

[Cinnamonape]

There isn't even certitude that it was arson. All fires are investigated as a potential arson if there is no immediately obvious natural or mechanical cause (i.e. short circuit, fireplace or kitchen fire). That doesn't mean it COULDN'T BE from an unintentional or accidental fire. Lot's of fires occur at Christmas time due to unattended candles, poorly installed X'mas lighting, fireplaces, stoves, and heaters that are poorly placed.

Give the Wasilla FD time to investigate and evaluate.