A building of great historical value was destroyed by a fire Wednesday night, which some believe is the latest work of an apparent arsonist in the area.
The rectory at the Lac La Biche Mission site was built around 1905. It was home to the province's first sawmill and first printing press and investigators now believe someone burnt it down to the ground on purpose.
This is the fifth fire in the area over the past three weeks that may have been deliberately set.
"Right now they're still under investigation so they're deemed suspicious," said Fire Chief Curtis Stuparyk with the Lac La Biche fire department. "It's hard to put into words the loss of this building for Lac La Biche and the community."
Residents are now wondering whether the gaping hole will remain or if something else will be built.
"I'm sure that the community will come together and probably rebuild it. It won't be the same, but I'm sure they'll get together and build something," said Rick Boucher.
The other recent fires in the area destroyed four vacant homes. Provincial fire investigators are now looking into the case.
With files from CTV's Bill Fortier
