A church was destroyed in a New Year's Eve fire near the village of Hay Lakes southeast of Edmonton.
First responders arrived at St. Joseph Lutheran Church around 11:30 p.m. to find the building "completely engulfed in flames."
St. Joseph Lutheran Church was destroyed by a fire on Dec. 31, 2022. (Dave Mitchell/CTV News Edmonton)
"Despite efforts of the first responders, the church was completely burned," Wetaskiwin RCMP said in a release on Thursday.
The fire was intentionally set, police said.
The church was originally built in 1915 and was moved to the new foundation in 1950, where it stood for another 72 years.
"Main concern is no one was hurt, but at the same time it’s a lot of history loss…a lot of the community around here has been involved for generations," said Hay Lakes Fire Chief Bryce Wolfe.
"What is the motive…for burning down a church?"
St. Joseph Lutheran Church was destroyed by a fire on Dec. 31, 2022. (Dave Mitchell/CTV News Edmonton)
Anyone with information about the suspicious fire is asked to call Mounties at 780-312-7200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Jeremy Thompson
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St. Joseph Lutheran Church was destroyed by a fire on Dec. 31, 2022. (Dave Mitchell/CTV News Edmonton)
St. Joseph Lutheran Church was destroyed by a fire on Dec. 31, 2022. (Dave Mitchell/CTV News Edmonton)
