|
Summarized by Kent Larsen
"> LDS Seminary in Sandy, Utah set ablaze (Sandy seminary fire was arson, investigators say)
Deseret News 4Jan00 D1
By Brady Snyder: Deseret News staff writer
SANDY, UTAH -- An LDS Church seminary, located inside an LDS
meeting house in Sandy, Utah, was the victim of an arson attack on
Monday. Sandy Police Chief Sam Dawson arrived within minutes after the
obvious arson blaze was started, preserving evidence that will probably
allow police to identify the arsonist. The blaze was noticed quickly
enough that damage was confined to the Seminary's office.
A passer-by reported the fire at about 8:40 p.m. Monday, and Chief
Dawson responded within minutes because he was parked just blocks away
from the LDS meeting house at 1300 East Turquoise Drive (10020 South).
Fire Chief Don Chase told the Deseret News that the attempt seemed to
have been bungled. The suspect or suspects were first unable to start a
fire inside the office. "It looked like a Boy Scout had tried to start a
fire," said Chief Chase. They then went outside, broke a window leading
into the office, and managed to start the fire from outside.
Damage to the building is estimated at $50,000, and seminary students
will spend a couple of days in supervised study halls at Eastmont Middle
School, the school served by the seminary, during normal seminary hours.
Members of the Eastmont and Sage Crest wards should be able to use the
building for regular LDS meetings on Sunday, according to Sandy Utah
West Stake President Paul Reed.
Reed says that its too bad that the arsonists attacked the building,
"It's such a shame," Reed said. "We just remodeled this building a year
ago."
|
