Church garage damaged in suspicious fire in B.C. Interior, say officials
Firefighters in Kelowna put out a suspicious fire behind a church on Friday evening.
The Grace Lutheran Church’s garage went up in flames, but was put out quickly, said West Kelowna Fire Rescue in a statement.
The fire comes after a string of suspicious incidents that have seen some churches lit on fire, burned to the ground, or vandalized in several communities across B.C. and Alberta.
Friday night’s fire was initially reported as “grass fire” but it quickly spread to the garage and was upgraded to a “structure fire,” said spokesperson Jason Brolund in a statement.
“The fire appears to have extended from the outside of the building and caused some damage to the garage and contents,” he said.
“The building was being used to store maintenance materials for the church property.”
The cause of the fire is suspicious and under investigation says the West Kelowna Fire Rescue service. Four firetrucks attended the scene.
West Kelowna fire officials did not say whether they suspect the fire is connected to any of the other previous church fires.
At least five of the churches that were destroyed or damaged by flames in the past month were on First Nations reserve land. Some have speculated that the church destruction and vandalism are connected to the confirmation of unmarked graves at former residential school sites across the country as many of the schools were run by Christian churches.
Last weekend a fire was set at a church in Prince George, and police said they believed it was the work of an arsonist.
The Vancouver Police Department also announced it was investigating acts of vandalism on three churches in the city.
Earlier in the week, a Pentecostal Indigenous church minister made a plea for people to stop setting fire to churches, saying the incidents were triggering.
“(Seeing the fires) brings up former traumatic feelings of violence and threats," said Jenn Allan-Riley of Living Waters Church.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
'I just want to be safe': Ukrainian man in Canada faces limbo amid consular freeze
A recent decision to restrict consular services for fighting-aged Ukrainian men has made a Ukrainian man in Canada feel less certain of his next steps — and worried he could be pulled back to the war.
Dozens of U.S. deaths reveal risks of injecting sedatives into people restrained by police
The practice of giving sedatives to people detained by police has spread quietly across the U.S. over the last 15 years, built on questionable science and backed by police-aligned experts, an investigation led by The Associated Press has found.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.