Palin’s church is ravaged by fire

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s home church was badly damaged by fire, prompting the governor to apologize if the suspected arson was connected to “undeserved negative attention” from her failed campaign as the Republican vice presidential nominee.

Damage to Wasilla Bible Church was estimated at $1 million, authorities said Saturday.

No one was injured in the fire, which started Friday night while a handful of people were inside, according to Central Matanuska-Susitna Fire Chief James Steele. They all exited when a fire alarm sounded.

Steele said that the blaze was being investigated as an arson but that he knew of no recent threats to the church. Nor did authorities know whether Palin’s connection to the church was relevant, he said.

“It’s hard to say at this point. Everything is just speculation,” he said. “We have no information on intent or motive.”

Steele would not comment on how the fire started.

Pastor Larry Kroon declined to say whether the church had received any recent threats.

“There are so many variables,” he said. “I don’t want to comment in that direction.”

Palin, who was not at the church at the time of the fire, stopped by Saturday.

Her spokesman, Bill McAllister, said in a statement that Palin told an assistant pastor she was sorry if the fire was connected to “undeserved negative attention” the 1,000-member evangelical church received after she became John McCain’s running mate Aug. 29.

“Whatever the motives of the arsonist, the governor has faith in the scriptural passage that what was intended for evil will in some way be used for good,” McAllister said.

During Palin’s campaign, the church was criticized for promoting a Focus on the Family Love Won Out Conference, which promised to “help men and women dissatisfied with living homosexually understand that same-sex attractions can be overcome.”