December 13, 2008
Posted: December 13th, 2008 10:34 PM ET

From
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin reportedly apologized for possibility that fire was related to her nomination.
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin reportedly apologized for possibility that fire was related to her nomination.

(CNN) - A "suspicious" fire devastated the church attended by Alaska Gov. and former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin on Friday night in her hometown of Wasilla, the church's minister said.

"We have no idea what caused it," the Rev. Larry Kroon of the Wasilla Bible Church said Saturday, adding that investigators were considering arson and other possible causes.

A ladies' craft group was in the building when the fire broke out, but they got out safely, Kroon said.

"No one was hurt," he said.

Central Mat-Su Fire Department Chief James Steele said the department was "treating it as suspicious and as potential arson at this point" but did not elaborate, The Anchorage Daily News reported.

The newspaper said Palin released a statement after the fire in which she said she stopped by the church Saturday morning and offered an apology to the assistant pastor "if the incident is in any way connected to the undeserved negative attention the church has received since she became a vice presidential candidate."

Full story

Filed under: Sarah Palin


The Shoe’s on the Other … Whoa! « The Sound of EmCeeKhan   December 15th, 2008 2:59 pm ET

[...] people, I know not everyone likes Palin, but please please please don't burn churches down in protest. If it was arson, whoever thought that was a good idea is an [...]

Joke   December 14th, 2008 2:36 pm ET

Could it be possible the missing $200,000 in clothes the RNC is looking for started the fire in church?? Found them.

Brendan H., San Antonio, TX   December 14th, 2008 2:29 pm ET

This is a message from above, Sarah!!! Are you smart enough to heed it?

renee   December 14th, 2008 2:27 pm ET

maybe it was that witch doctor.

Freda Birrell   December 14th, 2008 2:57 am ET

I truly am sorry if Sarah Palin's church has been damaged for whatever reason. No one should take the law into their own hands and this is a crime that can never be condoned. Sarah Palin has come out with the statement that she is sorry if all the negativity which surrounded her and her church during the presidential campaign has resulted in the damage to her church. I hope not but perhaps the good that will come out of this, over the evil, will be if Gov Palin recognises that she divided your great country with hatred, she condoned violence and did nothing to prevent the death threats against Barack Obama. Her behaviour is extreme to say the least and certainly not worthy of a possible future presidential candidate. God help America if she ever succeeds.

brett   December 14th, 2008 2:51 am ET

I'm sorry, but is the news really still talking about her? This is ridiculous. A mayor in a small town that doesnt have social services at all (school board, fire department, etc.) and she is still being talked about?!?!?!!? This is all because of good looks and its just sad. Its really just sad and pathetic. The only way this woman deserves national news attention is if she is the next winner of dancing with the stars!!!

I don't think so   December 14th, 2008 2:32 am ET

Pretty arogant of Palin to think the fire had anything to do with her.

Jeanette B.   December 14th, 2008 2:16 am ET

I think that it was vvery noble of Govenor Palin to say what she said. Although, I don't think she had to.. Eventhough I was not a supporter of the MCclain/Palin ticket, I think her actions were noble.

C'mon...   December 14th, 2008 2:16 am ET

Sarah...you're not that important....

C'mon...   December 14th, 2008 2:15 am ET

Someone remind Sarah..."you're not that important"....

Jim   December 14th, 2008 2:09 am ET

meatheads, it mustve been a sign from god huh?? LMFAO

David   December 14th, 2008 1:54 am ET

Everything happens for a reason. I find it interesting how frequent churches are destroyed by accidents or nature. We reap and sow on a consistent basis. It's great that no one was injured, however Palin has a whole lot of karma to experience in her life, based on her thoughts and actions during her campaign.

TRUTH   December 14th, 2008 1:54 am ET

sarah was the last nail for the destruction of the republican party that bush started, thank you both

J-Syxx   December 14th, 2008 1:53 am ET

Too bad Palin didn't burn down with it.

Bill   December 14th, 2008 1:36 am ET

This thing is a church? Looks like a smelting factory. What a depressing dump.

Greg Hodges   December 14th, 2008 1:33 am ET

First of all Thank GOD no one was hurt. Next, as someone who has heavily critisized Palin it is outrageous if this was arson; and I hope that someone is caught and severely punished for placing people in danger.As an aside, the building looks more like a warehouse than a church.

Enquiring minds want to know?   December 14th, 2008 1:28 am ET

Sarah, you sound like you might know just what happened? Why are you feeling that this fire is connceted to you? Hmmmmmm?

G.R.I.T.S - Girl Raised in the South   December 14th, 2008 1:08 am ET

Hmmmm. Always lookin' for attention aren't you, Gov. Palin? I hope they move quickly on determining the cause of the fire and I hope they tell the truth about it, whatever that may be, so that certain parties can't use this to their advantage. Maybe it's divine intervention?

Bullwinkle   December 14th, 2008 1:00 am ET

Since Sarah Palin is the most important person on the planet right now, there could be no other reason for there to be a fire at the church that she happens to attend.

steve r. from Wash st.   December 14th, 2008 1:00 am ET

I am a democrat and voted that way ,but we pray for GOV. PALIN AND HOPE THEY CAN REBUILD SOON!!! GOD BLESS YOU :)

ts mpls, mn   December 14th, 2008 12:59 am ET

"if the incident is in any way connected to the undeserved negative attention the church has received since she became a vice presidential candidate."

-----

Duhh you think??!!

liberal   December 14th, 2008 12:57 am ET

ya know I'm a democrat Obama supporter but back off palin she's a good person at heart!

Matt, Chico, CA   December 14th, 2008 12:50 am ET

Let's see how the liberals can blame this on Palin

Separation of Church and State Please   December 14th, 2008 12:47 am ET

I cant believe some nuts actually set the church on fire, but if they did, they should be arrested, prosecuted to the fullness extent of the law and locked in jail.

However, i have to say that bringing church into politics wasnt wise at all from both sides. Lets leave God vs God out of election. Praying for unlimited rain, praying for God to show his power on election night for a McCain victory is all a stupid way of discrediting God. God is God and the foolishness of God is still wiser than brains of men.

Sarah Palin has a lot of confession and forgiveness to seek from man and God. I am not perfect, but she made the less perfect even less perfect. She needs to unite, bring hearts together and quit seeking things of the world.

If God be for you Sarah, no one can be against you so stop and quit blaming or condemning others.

gp   December 14th, 2008 12:30 am ET

I'm glad no one was hurt and it is unfortunate what happened to the church. But I have to say giving an apology without knowing the facts is suspcious. Mmmm; grasping for more attention or are you ready to place the blame on Non-Real Americans.

Carl from MI   December 14th, 2008 12:30 am ET

What a joke!! There's been NO investigation yet... and yet they call it 'suspicious'. What a bunch of bunk! They admit they don't know what caused it, yet they consider it possibly arson. Sherlock Holmes would roll over in his grave...

How you can consider it arson without knowing what caused it makes it only speculation, and it's irresponsible to say anything otherwise. Obviously, Wasilla is overflowing with irresponsibility.

Once again... it just goes to show you what goes for intelligence up in Wasilla, Alaska.

Stacy Clarks, TX   December 14th, 2008 12:26 am ET

my regards to the church, and if it is arson as suspected, then shame on the culprits.

I am a liberal, very left leaning American, and certainly do NOT agree with Palin on her political stance, but if this is politically motivated, then its just plain wrong!

but on a side note, this has not been labeled as arson yet, but its just a "suspicion" and Palin's comments are a little early (just her political PR inexperience)

but non-the-less a sad story

Judy Mia Fl   December 14th, 2008 12:21 am ET

What goes around comes around. If it was done to attack Palin and her right wing "Christian" friends, they (she) only has herself to blame after all the hate she spewed in just a few months.

Obama/Biden 2012

Denise Groves   December 14th, 2008 12:21 am ET

As much as I do not like her, this is not good if this is arson. Nobody should be setting fire to a place of worshoip.

BigDaddyTod   December 14th, 2008 12:21 am ET

Wow. what some people will do to keep their names in the press.

Frank St.Onge   December 14th, 2008 12:16 am ET

Thank god no one was hurt.

Amy   December 14th, 2008 12:15 am ET

I am by no means a Palin fan, not by a long shot, but this is horrible. How are you going to burn down a community church because you don't agree with a member of it? I really hope they catch whoever did it. If it was someone local, it shouldn't be too hard since the population is virtually nonexistent.

Patrick   December 14th, 2008 12:10 am ET

Maybe the left will finally learn that racist and bigoted actions happen from both sides. The days of thinking of the right as the small minded racist ideology are over. There are idiots on both sides of the aisle.

I too sing America   December 14th, 2008 12:04 am ET

I hope it was an accident. Regardless of political views, no one should do a horrible thing like that to a place of worship.

I'm Not Missing The Old Mule & Winky Half-baked Alaska   December 13th, 2008 11:51 pm ET

Maybe a result of all the incendiary remarks she made during the campaign. Nice work there, Moosellini!

Pepe Le Pew   December 13th, 2008 11:50 pm ET

This is a warped world we live in.

Chris (South Carolina)   December 13th, 2008 11:47 pm ET

While I think Palin was not the right person for Vice President this is horrible if started on purpose to somehow attack her.

I hope this was just an accident but I have a feeling some left wing nutjob did this and I hope they are punished for it.

welches, oregon   December 13th, 2008 11:46 pm ET

humm...wonder if this is God's will.....

Peter (CA)   December 13th, 2008 11:41 pm ET

Maybe she should have made sure it was arson before taking "credit" for it...but that's our Sarah!

If it was arson, the culprit should go away for a long, long time. No matter what you think about Palin, this type of act has no place in society.

gabba   December 13th, 2008 11:37 pm ET

And this is why you burn the witches OUTSIDE, folks...

Anee   December 13th, 2008 11:20 pm ET

No why should she apologize?? She thinks its all about her? Get a life woman!!

Kyle C.   December 13th, 2008 11:19 pm ET

I do not like her politics at all but it is a shame that someone would do this. As humans, we all should be above this petty offenses

inuk of the north   December 13th, 2008 11:18 pm ET

Wow!

Palin-hate and Palin-haters at work?

Or just faulty wiring?

Hopefully it's the wiring and not a new brand of church-burners.

Church-burning should make everyone in America cringe.

Edward   December 13th, 2008 11:01 pm ET

I really hope that this has nothing to do with the fact that Sarah Palin attends this church. I voted for Obama but I think that Sarah Palin is a good person at heart and it would be pretty sad if someone feels the need to do something like this to make some sort of sad statement. Anyone who would chose to have a child who they know would be sick has a huge heart and deserve at least some respect based on that alone.

Phil   December 13th, 2008 10:57 pm ET

This idiot thinks it has to do with her FAILED V.P. run.lololololol Idiot did you ever think it could have been just the electrical?

proudliberal-independent   December 13th, 2008 10:55 pm ET

even witchdoctor churches deserve not to be burned. what's the matter with this country?

BUSH BEGONE!   December 13th, 2008 10:52 pm ET

I guess God has once again given retribution to what's her name for all the lies and hate she told and provoked.

First, on election night when Obama won and now the center of hate has burned!

Willy Brown   December 13th, 2008 10:52 pm ET

Got to be those crack head america hating liberals who done this. Palin 2012!

Tara C   December 13th, 2008 10:52 pm ET

This is just awful! I am not a Sarah supporter politically, but she and the rest of the people in her congregation did not deserve this! They're in my thoughts and hopefully someone with some money will step up and offer to rebuild.

Joe Fattal   December 13th, 2008 10:49 pm ET

Good. The turkey got even. I still don't believe that both of them, her and Greta stood there for the interview in front of that turkey slaughter machine and they didn't knew about it.

TyWebb   December 13th, 2008 10:48 pm ET

Set by a witch doctor...

Jeff Spangler, Arlington, VA   December 13th, 2008 10:44 pm ET

The Church Lady would ask "whooooo could it be? SATAN?!?"

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