#USA #NY – Authorities investigated several fires and structural incidents involving churches in recent days, including an arson at a historic vacant church in Buffalo and another suspected arson in rural Maine.
In Buffalo, flames broke out at the Old St. Ann’s Church on the evening of July 22. Firefighters responded to reports of smoke around 5:45 p.m., and officials quickly ruled the blaze an arson. The incident marked the second fire at the site in roughly one week; the earlier blaze, which occurred around July 17, remained under investigation as of Wednesday. No injuries were reported in either event, as the building was unoccupied.
The Diocese of Buffalo sold the complex at 651 Broadway (including the church, school, and convent) to Buffalo Crescent Holdings, Inc. for $250,000. The buyer, affiliated with the Downtown Islamic Center, planned to convert it into an Islamic cultural centre / mosque, health care facility, and related uses, with multimillion-dollar renovations envisioned over time.
The day before the second St. Ann fire, on July 21, crews in Dennysville, Maine, responded to a fire at the Edmunds Congregational Church shortly after 8 a.m. Firefighters contained the blaze near the back of the building with minimal damage and no injuries. The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office later determined the fire was arson and appealed for public tips.
Also on July 22, firefighters in Greer, South Carolina, responded to a fire inside New Hope Nation church on Valentine Lane. Officials evacuated the building, but specific details on damage or cause were not immediately released.
These incidents followed earlier high-profile church fires in the United States. In late June, a massive blaze severely damaged the historic San Francisco Central Seventh-day Adventist Church in Pacific Heights during renovation work. The fire destroyed the roof and caused extensive water and structural damage, though no one was injured.
In Brooklyn, a June 19 fire gutted much of the landmark South Bushwick Community Church, leading to an arson investigation. The 173-year-old structure lost its steeple and sustained heavy damage, prompting a major fundraising effort by the congregation.
Investigations into the causes and circumstances of the most recent fires continued Wednesday, with local authorities urging anyone with information to come forward. No widespread pattern linking the U.S. incidents was reported.
Image: St. Ann Roman Catholic Church in Buffalo, New York.
