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

[p4poetic]

What's this (unfortunate) situation has to do with Palin, really? Her apology seems kind of awkward. Who is to assume it had something to do with the election? Surely if it did, it would of happened a lot earlier. Church burning is usually influenced for racial or religious reasons.

[aloha43]

Yea, and Sarah brought out a lot of that now, didn't she.

I don't believe this had to do with her....she just wants people to believe that so she can keep her name in the news.

[dm10003]

the arson may never fully explain why, i wonder if we'll ever know their criminal reasoning.

[jigisup]

We almost went a week without Sara Palin making it all about her.
Maybe we will have better luck next week!

[profounddogs]

LMAO!

[scrzbill]

It was an act of gawd.

[RuthlessDictator]

Please, Huffington Post, can't you go just one day without having to show her face here.

I'm so sick of her. This is getting annoying.

[profounddogs]

Yeah, her face is starting to make me wanna puke. Can't take much more ...

[dutchess2]

Well, is she sorry for stirring up such hatred?

I want to hear that apology.

so far it doesn't look like she even knows about it.

[CheshireCat2]

Yet you chose not to disapprove of this action as unacceptable?

[KarateKid]

You wouldn't be saying that if it was Obama's church, fella.

[prestodan]

Folks, much has been written about this church, and it's aggressive attempts to basically take over the town of Wasilla, with Sarah Palin as their point person to lead the effort. The church had a very visible one of their own get elected to town mayor, then governor, then chosen as VP slot - and many of the church's members' saw a religious tie, or "God's hand" in all of it. The church seemed to preach with an Alaska-centric bent, and was very comfortable being upfront and theocratic on their political views. Max Blumenthal has written and filmed on this very subject.
Now, this in NO WAY excuses setting a church on fire, but I would think the tactics shown on the part of the church and it's members alienated a lot of people in the area, who probably can't stand this church if they're not part of it, and this is what I suspect is connected to the arson. Sarah Palin brought more attention to this church, but it's controversial views and clearly apparent intolerance on many levels is probably what lead some self identified enemy of the church probably to commit such an act. Live by the sword - or in this case, the strike of the match - and you may wind up getting burned.
This is just my take - it could be a lot of things that lead to this, maybe even just bored teenagers, as someone here suggested - but that's my take.

[MAragon]

I suspect you're closer to the truth here than any of these other theorists. My money's on a local who's got it in for that church or has it in for someone who was in the church at that time.

[Tulka2]

There were people inside. Terror is terror. No one deserves this.

[kensp]

According to Palin abortion clinic bombers are not terrorists, so even assuming this fire was politically motivated which is pure speculation at this point, then the culprit is not a terrorist. Probably just some wacky firebug.

[Topfeeder]

I believe the term is collateral damage. Isn't that what Bush is calling the 100,000 civilians in Iraq?

[ShortHair]

I wonder if Wasila is still "Pro America" in Palin's book?

[Whinger]

Any act that endangers life must be condemned, it is the motivation that will give the answer!

[dm10003]

+1

[markinaz]

Good thing that never happens to a family planning clinic. Oh yeah, that's right.

[vtlt8]

When's the last time that happened?

[aloha43]

Here are a few....do you need more?

2008
http://www.covenantnews.com/abortion/archives/038720.html

2007
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Local_news_in_brief_122607

2007
http://www.wvec.com/news/local/stories/wvec_local_050907_vb_fire_.506ba859.html

2006
http://vivatjesus.blogspot.com/2006/12/phoenix-planned-parenthood-fire.html

1992
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE7D9123DF933A15752C0A964958260

[naturallight]

One thing is for certain.

This crime was committed by an Alaskan.

[Darthwave]

hmm... what was the name of the that 70s song by Tramps? Seriously it was probably some dumb kids playing around. Find them and prosecute them but don't try to make this some type of hate crime for goodness sake.

[daniINDY]

Personally, I think committing a crime in retaliation of a political figure takes us back decades. It's sad and disturbing. I'm not a Palin fan, but I certainly wouldn't consider burning her home church down.

[JohnJames]

Nothing like jumping to conclusions. Or do you know more about this particular act of arson than the rest of us?

[goodog]

yeah, people are taking Palin's bait, hook, line, and sinker.

[kevenseven]

There are lots of firebugs out there with no political motives.

[PaxMundis]

Are you going to say the same to those who (on here) claim that the parishioners did it themselves for attention?

[CheshireCat2]

IT is only acceptable from one side of the political spectrum.

[scrzbill]

What is IT and why would the neo cons accept this?

[doctorwang]

what side would that be?

[katocat]

I lived there for 23 years.... Wasilla has it's share of trouble making teenagers just like most places.

Guarantee you this is the work of some bored little boys suffering from cabin fever.

[poochytown]

What a drag.