Police are investigating what is believed to have been a burglary in progress at Trinity Lutheran Church when a fire was reported to officials at 2:30 a.m. Monday.
It appears the call reporting the fire in the downstairs’ kitchen of the church was made from the church, however, no one was there when emergency responders arrived.
 Ellen Robinson | Sidney Herald A fire was reported at Trinity Lutheran Church at 2:30 a.m. Monday. The fire happened in the downstairs’ kitchen. |
Trinity Pastor David Warner said the damage is worse in the basement area this time, but less in the rest of the building than before. However, the loss of the kitchen is very significant in terms of replacement costs.
“In terms of damage, we had a burglary and a fire. Whoever broke into the church, it appears, in some way is responsible for the fire,” Warner said.
On Tuesday evening, the Trinity congregation met at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church to begin recovery plans and to announce the location of its services.
“We’ll be out of the building for some time because cleaning has to be done. We will worship on Sunday,” Warner said. “This is a strange burden - it’s just bizarre. But the church isn’t the building, it is the people.”
The 2004 fire, which was deemed to be electrical in nature, destroyed the vault and its contents, charred the room outside of the vault, and caused smoke damage in the fellowship hall, up the stairway and throughout the sanctuary.
The state fire marshall is conducting an investigation to determine if the fire was accidental or intentional.
Sidney Police are still looking for the individual who is a suspect in the case.
ellenr@sidneyherald.com
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