Palin Church Fire: Accelerant Poured Around Building

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — An accelerant was poured around the exterior of Gov. Sarah Palin's church before fire heavily damaged the building, federal investigators said Monday. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said the accelerant was poured at several locations around the church, including entrances.

Lab tests will determine the type of substance involved. Possibilities include gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel or even lamp oil, Agent Nick Starcevic said.

The blaze was set Friday night at the main entrance of the Wasilla Bible Church while a small group, including two children, were inside. No one was injured. Fire authorities were called to the scene at 9:40 p.m., unusually early for many arson fires, Starcevic said.

"It's kind of odd to do in the evening hours," he said. "I can tell you that most of the arson fires I've worked on are late nighttime, usually when no one is there."

Palin, the former Republican vice presidential candidate, was not at the church at the time of the fire but visited Saturday. Her spokesman, Bill McAllister, said Monday that Palin knew about the accelerants Saturday morning before a statement she authorized was released that day.

During her visit at the church, 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, McAllister said.

Wasilla Deputy Police Chief Greg Wood said authorities had no immediate suspects or motive.

Comments

[ssaz]

Burning a church or place or worship is deplorable and should never be condoned. That being said, I think it's time Churches returned to issues of spirituality and spend less time attempting to influence political outcomes. I can't help but feel this incident was inspired by recent rhetoric by the right and Palin during the presidential race. Churches should be churches and stay out of politics or we are likely to see more despicable events like this one.

[Pinkmarbles]

HUH??!! I did not know that Rev. Wright and Father Flager were right wing. WOW! You learn something new on this site every day.

[JohnFromCensornati]

Witches for sure.

[AntonBursch]

That's native americans. Thank you very much. Just because Palin and her church calls them witches doesn't mean they are.

[JayBachand]

Could we be witnessing a backlash against radical Christianity?

[QuietNetworker]

It would be long overdue.

However, a backlash is required
even if non-vi0lent again all faith,
even moderate faith.

You see the same mechanisms
are at work, that is, believing in
something strongly enough that
you alter your life and view of
others ... without sufficient
evidence.

Cheers,

Paulie Sabol

[Horus45]

Why the hell is the ATF investigating?

Should this not have been handled by either local LEOs or State Troopers?

[BeasleysMom]

I think because such a small town would not have the ability or resources to conduct an arson investigation.

[dm10003]

no matter what palin's connection, if it's an arson palin-hater, the church is a symbol of palin. time will tell how the arson's mind reasoned this out. i'm sure it will be a unique arson's viewpoint without political logic.

[Truthsfire]

Whatever one's political beliefs, setting fire to someone's house because their beliefs are different in whatever way is so beyond the pale of acceptability as to be reprehensible. It doesn't matter how much we might disagree with Palin's views, her actions, or what she (says she) stands for, whoever did this should be found and punished according to law.

[KarenT]

I totally agree but aren't we getting ahead of ourselves? Noone knows who or why this was done. It may have nothing to do with politics.

[THEGrizzlyBear]

With two kids inside!!! Are you serious! Can anyone say death penalty!!!
-GGGRRRRR

[AlaskanToo]

Question:
Is it possible that upon learning of all the donations to Bristol and her baby that some folks at the church cooked up a plan to have the donations start to flood their own church?

[lajaw]

"According to Palin abortion clinic bombers are not terrorists,"

Please show a reference to that. You are grasping at straws again?

[milo h minderbinder]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qty8kuS7Vo

When asked if they are terrorists, she ranted about Bill Ayers, then in reference to bombing abortion clinics said "I don't know if I'd use the word terrorist there..."

[LMT]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qty8kuS7Vo

[kody1529]

You never saw that interview? Mccain didn't hesitate to answer. Palin's answer was very murky and refused to say they were. I suggest you type in a few words in the google search bar, especially when the video was so widely available previously.

[Pinkmarbles]

Technically abortion bombers are NOT terrorists.

Terrorism is the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion.[1]There is no internationally agreed definition of terrorism.[2][3] Most common definitions of terrorism include only those acts which are intended to create fear (terror), are perpetrated for an ideological goal (as opposed to a lone attack), and deliberately target or disregard the safety of non-combatants.

The bombers considered the Doctors "combatants" in the case of abortion so terrorist would not be used to describe them.

[AbyssinianLion]

Uhhhh...Isnt the bombing an act to get people to fear (or be terrified of) retribution?

[shanefish]

Are you really thay dumb or are you just pretending? Abortionombers fit every definition you gave but for the fact that they supposedly only bombed people they deemed as combatants...how convenient. As long as you identify a target, you're not considered a terrorist? Get a grip people. God's wrath will fall upon you people someday.

[dogman44]

LOL You're kidding right?

[loyalreader]

You just don't get it do you? People do all kinds of crazy things to stay famous.

[SolarPowerGuy]

C'mon, people, it was whale oil.

[jpopphan]

"undeserved negative attention"????

The church made a video of a witch doctor performing on stage, "blessing" Palin. Not to mention other craziness.

If that doesn't merit some "deserved" attention, I don't know what does.

[watchingthings]

Don't forget that some parishoners were "speaking in tongues" during that witch doctor's seremon. That alone tells me that those seremons are a "load of crap" and don't belong in a "regular" church.

[loyalreader]

I imagine its an event to make headline news. Teenagers in Wasilla are busy getting high,,,,no time for burning down buildings even if they are supposed to be worth 1 million.

[daedelus]

In Wasilla, "accelerant" is typically mixed with ginger ale and ice cubes.

[Pinkmarbles]

Hey at my house as well. At least someone on here "gets" it. CHEERS!!

[aloha43]

Why do all of the articles keep stating that it was Palin's church?

She has already said that she doesn't belong to any church.

It isn't her church. It is Wasilla's church.

[Topfeeder]

Sarah Palin was interviewed by Greta Van Sustern last night and she said it was her church. If it wasn't her church then why did she apologize?

[aloha43]

I just watched that interview and she didn't come out and say that it was HER church. She may attend, sometimes, but it isn't her church. She barely attends that church anymore. But since it is her hometown church, everyone is calling it her's. That is what I meant.

She apologized at first just to keep her mouth in the news. Then did this interview with Greta just to stay in the limelight. I am just surprised that she will sit and do interviews with a "woman" who obviously has a crush on her.

[also there also]

If she does not belong to Wasilla Bible Church then she should correct wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin

Scroll down to "Personal Life"....

[GirdwoodAnnie]

It is a church that is LOCATED in Wasilla.

The City of Wasilla doesn't own any churches. Yet.

[profounddogs]

Huh?