Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s church was badly damaged in an arson fire last night, the Associated Press reports.
Damages to the Wasilla Bible Church were estimated at $1 million, authorities said today. No one was injured in the fire, which was intentionally set while people, including two children, were inside.
“This fire is definitely suspicious,” said Central Mat-Su Fire Chief James Steele.
Pastor Larry Kroon declined to say if the Friday night blaze was politically based or directed at Palin, the failed Republican vice presidential candidate. He also declined to say whether the church has received any recent threats.
Rachel D’Oro writes that Palin stopped by the church this morning. Her spokesman, Bill McAllister, said in a statement that Palin told an assistant pastor she apologizes if the fire was connected to the “undeserved negative attention” the church has received with her previous vice presidential candidacy.
The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life compiled a report on how the media handled Palin’s faith, and several stories focused on her church.
