WASILLA — Wasilla police investigators have collected some new evidence from the scene of the Wasilla Bible Church fire.

The evidence, the nature of which hasn’t officially been released, is just one part of the puzzle as investigators try to find out who set the blaze Dec. 12 that caused nearly $1 million worth of damage to the church.

While the evidence doesn’t necessarily solve the mystery of who allegedly set the fire, it is one more clue investigators need to help track down a suspect or suspects in the case. Still, officials say they need anyone who has information about the fire, no matter how small, to come forward.

On Monday, Wasilla police Deputy Chief Greg Wood said leads and tips have dried up recently, leaving investigators with little new information to report.

Wood said it will be helpful when results come back from the State Crime Lab detailing what sort of accelerant was used to start the blaze.

Those results are expected sometime soon, Wood said.

Once investigators learn the exact accelerant used in the fire it could narrow down the search.

No matter what those results are, Wood said the Wasilla Bible Church case is a “huge investigation” that will take a lot of time.

“It’s just going to be good police work that brings this to closure,” Wood said.

Firefighters were called to the Wasilla Bible Church at 9:40 p.m., Dec. 12 to a blaze Central Mat-Su Fire Department Chief James Steele quickly called suspicious.

A group of people inside the church making crafts were alerted to the fire when alarms began sounding inside the building.

Officials called the church’s fire the largest since Su Valley Jr./Sr. High School burned down in June 2007.

Days after the fire, investigators with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said an accelerant was poured around the outside of the church before the fire was set.

The find served to confirm arson as the cause of the fire.

In a previous interview, Wood said witnesses from the community have so far provided good information.

On Monday, the deputy chief said he’s optimistic whoever set the blaze will be found.

“I think we’ll get to the bottom of it,” Wood said.

Investigators are asking anyone who might know more to call Mat-Su Crime Stoppers at 745-3333 or the Wasilla Police Department at 352-5401.

Contact Michael Rovito at michael.rovito@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.