100-year-old Echo Park church damaged in fire that may have been arson

[Sedona]

Source: Los Angeles Times

A 100-year-old building in Echo Park that served as a home for mostly ethnic religious groups was nearly destroyed in an early-morning fire that was intentionally set, officials said.

Forerunners for Christ church had been hosting church services and religious groups at the building in the 1600 block of North Morton Avenue for seven years and had cemented itself as part of the community.

Investigators determined that the fire was intentional, Humphrey said.

The church hosts two Latino groups, as well as 50 to 60 regular parishioners, who are mostly Filipino, Samoan and black, she said.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-100-year-old-echo-park-church-20150629-story.html

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it spreads west...

[onecaliberal]

1. :

[Hekate]

2. Well damnation

[Journeyman]

3. In Los Angeles, most church fires start by an unattended candle or during a burglary, Humphrey said.

Let's hope this proves a bungled burglary.

[cui bono]

4. Holy shit! I used to live on that street, two blocks up, 20 years ago!

It's mostly a hispanic/latino neighborhood that has gotten gentrified but is still really mixed with a lot of different types/ethnic varieties of people. It's known as a hipster neighborhood now, but it's not all hipsters. But there is a hip coffee joint kind of right across the street now.

It's an older neighborhood where most of the houses were built in the early 1900's. I live near there now and my house is 90 years old.

Personally, I doubt it is related to the other fires in the south. Could be insurance fraud if it is arson. The value of land and properties there has skyrocketed lately. Even rent has gotten really high, especially considering it's not an upscale neighborhood, but it is very desirable.

[flamingdem]

5. The Feds need to do something

or it will keep happening.

I have no idea what but security cameras would be a start.