Suspicious fire destroys church south of Edmonton
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
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway.
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
Have you been removed from your family doctor’s patient list for visiting an Ontario walk-in clinic?
Some Ontarians are expressing frustration after they said that they were removed from their family doctor’s patient list for visiting a walk-in clinic in a process being called “de-rostering.”
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.