embedding the story in case the link dies after the next news cycle...comment to follow in next post
Arson fire destroys Jehovah's Witness church
09:06 AM MDT on Monday, July 23, 2007
Monique James
Idaho's News Channel
Brian Van Pelt/KTVB
The ruins of a church after a fire early Sunday morning.
BOISE - Fire crews are investigating an arson fire that destroyed a Boise church overnight.
That fire happened at the Jehovah’s Witness church just off of Roosevelt and St. Andrews just after 2 a.m.
When crews arrived on scene, they found the building engulfed in flames, and say someone set the fire intentionally.
Witnesses say they saw what appeared to be a couple of teens, dressed in black, running away from the area of the church, just after the fire broke out.
The fire triggered a large response – climbing to two alarms, and investigators think arson is involved.
One witness who did not want to be identified says she immediately called 9-1-1.
“We were coming down the street and we saw orange glow and flames coming from the roof,” the witness said. “We just waited down here and as we were coming down we saw, what looked like some kids running down the street.”
“We had some investigators out there,” Sgt. Randy Buzzini said. “They determined after the investigation this morning was done that one of the corners of the building was set on fire, we believe it was an intentional act and an act of arson."
Church officials had to cancel four planned Sunday morning services. Instead, leaders met to figure out how to pick up and move forward.
"We have a committee here that's working on rebuilding already and it wont be long and they'll have it organized and we'll start cleaning up and we'll start re-building," Don Whitlow of the South Congregation of Jehovah’s Witness said.
Worshippers say the church will be rebuilt and the congregation will continue to meet in a different location, but that doesn't take away the sense of loss.
"It's devastating to see something like this, to any religion, any congregation. It's devastating to anybody," Whitlow said.
Investigators will continue to process evidence they collected and interview neighbors until they get some answers.
“It's not something we take lightly, we are going to be investigating it here over the next several days and looking at possible witnesses,” Buzzini said.
Investigators say they do not believe the arson is targeted at the Jehovah’s Witness community, but rather a random act of vandalism.
If you have any information, call CrimeStoppers at 343-COPS.
