State police fire marshals have officially declared the fire yesterday at the Harmony Grove Lutheran Church in Willet an arson, and they are looking to the public for any assistance as the investigation continues.
First reported in a post on Twitter, the fire was “determined by the Troop A Fire Marshal Unit to be incendiary in nature, meaning that it was intentionally set.”
The fire was first reported at 3:56 AM, with twelve fire companies eventually making their way to the scene along Five Points Road in Washington Township. With limited sources of water, tanker trucks had to haul water to the church, which had flames shooting through the roof. Fire Marshals, assisted by the ATF say the fire started in two places: the center of the basement and the first floor Chancel/Altar area. Damage was extensive, but no estimate has been made yet.
There was one minor injury as a firefighter slipped down the steps, but that firefighter was treated and released. The congregation has not announced its plans as its members deal with the shock that someone would set their church building on fire.
State police are asking anyone with information on this fire or any of the other recent fires in the northern Indiana County area to call the Troop A Indiana Barracks at 724-357-1960.
