A historic Sikh temple in Abbotsford, B.C., was burned to the ground in a suspicious fire early Thursday morning.
Only the front wall was left standing after the blaze at the temple in the 31900-block of Townshipline Road, operated by Sant Baba Vasakha Singh Sikh Society, Abbotsford police Const. Ian MacDonald told ctvbc.ca.
"It was almost like what you would see on a soundstage for a Hollywood movie. The front is pretty much like a façade," he said.
MacDonald said that while the fire has been deemed suspicious, it's too early to speculate on if there were religious or racial motivations behind the blaze.
"Until we get to the level of arson, we really can't move into the level of motive," he said.
Firefighters were called to the heritage building around 4:20 a.m., according to Abbotsford Deputy Fire Chief Dean Colthrop. The more than 70-year-old building was already completely engulfed.
"The roof was starting to come down at that point," he said.
It took 25 firefighters about an hour to get the flames under control. He added that fire investigators have classified the fire as suspicious because there was no evidence people had been around at the time it started.
Investigators are asking anyone who might have witnessed people or vehicles near the building at the time of the blaze to call Abbotsford police at 604-859-5225.
