WPD takes over church fire investigation

WASILLA — Investigators are following leads and tips that may lead to a suspect or suspects in the Wasilla Bible Church fire, Wasilla Police Deputy Chief Greg Wood said.

As of Thursday, however, no arrests had been made.

The Wasilla Police Department took over as the lead investigating agency after firefighters extinguished the blaze last weekend. Wood said the WPD has received tips concerning who may have been responsible for the apparent arson and are following up on those tips.

The fire was branded arson after investigators found an accelerant had been poured around the church. Scientists at the state crime lab have yet to determine what sort of accelerant was used.

Orin Dym, the forensic lab manager at the crime lab, said the accelerant poured around the outside of the church could turn out to a number of substances.

“Anything that will burn” can be used as an accelerant, Dym said.

He said investigators could tell an accelerant was used by what they saw at the scene.

“It’s where the fire looks like it spread much too quickly,” Dym said, referring to where investigators found the accelerant.

During the past week following the fire, Wasilla Bible Church has been buzzing with activity as it organizes repairs and reconstruction.

On Thursday, church Pastor Larry Kroon said the outpouring of support from Alaskans and people in the Lower 48 has been terrific.

“People are very interested,” he said. “They’re very encouraging.”

He’s particularly grateful to the firefighters, who he credits for saving the church from further destruction by arriving on scene quickly.

“The fire department got here and literally saved our building,” Kroon said.

Kroon said the church has full coverage insurance that will pay for the majority of repairs. Because of that, the church isn’t launching a fundraising campaign.

Damage is estimated to be about $1 million.

The fire was called in about 9:40 p.m. Dec. 12 after a group of people making crafts inside the church were alerted by a fire alarm.

Everyone inside the church managed to escape and no one was injured in the blaze.

James Steele, chief of the Central Mat-Su Fire Department, said the fire was “definitely suspicious” immediately following the blaze.

Shortly after local news organizations began reporting the fire, national news picked up the story because it’s the home church of Gov. Sarah Palin. Immediately, speculation the fire was politically motivated swirled around on cable news broadcasts and online news sites.

So far, however, officials investigating the fire say they’ve found no immediate connection to the fire being set for political reasons. Regardless, Palin apologized to Kroon shortly after the fire if it turns out her candidacy for vice president had anything to do with it.

Determining that is up to investigators, and for now, Kroon said he and members of the church are focusing on the future.

An online diary of sorts is being regularly updated at www.wasillabible.org, chronicling what the church is doing to rebound from the destruction.

Kroon said everyone is staying positive and taking the challenge of rebuilding one day at a time. Well-wishes from strangers across the country are helping, Kroon said. “We’re getting a terrific response of encouragement.”

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