UPDATED: Police confirm arson in church fire

By Kyra Hoggan

New press release from police:

Investigators looking into the 2 suspicious fires have now confirmed that the Church and Vehicle fires were deliberately set. This act is a serious occurrence at anytime of the year but especially disturbing with the Easter Season soon to be upon us.

 

The Castlegar RCMP along with resources from the Kootenay Boundary Regional General Investigation Section, Castlegar Fire Department and B.C. Fire Commissioners Office are involved in this investigation.

Officers are presently completing the scene examination as well as interviewing witnesses and following up on any tips or information received from the public.

 

RCMP investigators continue to ask anyone that may have taken video or photographs of the Catholic Church fire to please attend the Castlegar Detachment and pass along the footage or photos of the fire.

Police are seeking the public's assistance, if any person saw something suspicious in either area on the night of March 25, 2013, or who may have any information with respect to these fires, they're asked to call the Castlegar RCMP at 250-365-7721 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. Callers to CRIME STOPPERS remain Anonymous and may be eligible for a reward.

 

Previous story:

Castlegar RCMP Sgt. Laurel Mathew has confirmed that arson was, indeed, the cause of a devastating fire that destroyed most of St Rita's Catholic Church on 7 Avenue Monday.

"Yes, the fire was deliberately set," she said.

Mathew was unable to release whether police have any concrete leads, but said the public has been coming forward with video footage and photos of the blaze.

"We're viewing them (films) on Facebook, people are coming in to the counter (of the detachment), and we're seeing IPhone footage," she said. "We appreciate that, when we ask for public response, people come through for us.
 

"We're following up anything we get."

The fire destroyed everything but the main hall and rectory, but Easter services will go ahead as planned in the main hall.