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Church fires in Masterton labelled suspicious.
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Video / NZ Herald
Videos are circulating online of a man claiming to be behind the torching of a string of churches in Masterton overnight.
An elder of one of four Masterton churches damaged in suspicious fires in the early hours of today says a row of chairs has been completely burnt out, upholstery is charred and smoke marks stretch up to the ceiling.
The four churches hit were the Anglican Church of the Epiphany, St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Masterton Baptist Church, and Equippers Church Masterton.
Three other churches also appear to have been targeted.
Today, videos have appeared on social media of a man who claims to have started the fires.
St Patrick’s Catholic Church has praised the efforts of a local police officer who happened to be driving past, saw their building was “red hot”, and managed to dampen the flames with an outside hose until firefighters arrived.
The damage to some of them has been described as “significant”, with police now investigating and standing guard at the buildings.
The damage to some of the churches has been described as "significant". Photo / Wellington Fire and Emergency
Up to 12 Fire and Emergency NZ trucks earlier rushed to fight the fires, which all started between 4.25am and 4.35am, a Fire and Emergency spokesperson said.
Masterton Baptist Church elder David Dew viewed the damage through a doorway early this morning after emergency services called him to the scene.
Dew said the fire brigade told him that they were on their way to reports of another church fire when they noticed flames coming out of his building so they stopped to deal with it.
He was thankful and thought the damage could have been a lot worse if firefighters had not stumbled across the fire.
“One row is completely burnt out. All the upholstery and foam are completely charred and gone. There are smoke marks right up to the ceiling.”
The blue light from a police car illiminates the damage to Masterton Baptist Church from the fire. Photo / David Dew
Three churches the Herald has spoken to all have broken windows.
Dew said it appeared someone had thrown an object through the window with an accelerant to start the fire.
He understood police were following a lead in terms of who was responsible.
Police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand have been approached for further comment.
A funeral home that Dew formerly owned has offered the use of its chapel so the Masterton Baptist Church community can still hold services.
Many other offers of support have flooded in.
Dew said it was very disturbing that four churches were targeted in one night.
“This deliberate act is very upsetting and the fact that people or persons unknown have felt they could plan – you don’t normally have seven, we’ll call them firebombs, at hand, you have to make them.”
Denise Holden, of the Catholic Parish of Wairarapa, said earlier today they were unsure of the extent of the damage at St Patrick’s Catholic Church because they were not allowed inside while investigations were under way.
The fires are being treated as suspicious. Photo / Wellington Fire and Emergency
Visible exterior damage included a broken window, she said.
“But we are very blessed and thankful to the policeman who was driving past and saw our church was red hot so, he got the hose that we have on the outside through into the foyer area and managed to dampen it down by the time the fire brigade got here.”
Equippers Church pastor Matt Cornford said there were also broken windows at his church.
“I am guessing something’s been thrown through the window but as to how or what, I wouldn’t know.”
Cornford said it was a sad situation.
“In some ways as a church, there’s some anticipated backlash or ill feeling and I know that not everyone is going to like what we do and that’s okay, but certainly acts of violence rather than conversation don’t really help anything.”
School holiday programmes were run from the church buildings, as well as conferences. There is also a climbing wall and gym spaces.
“The facility does enable us to serve the community in different ways, so it’s a shame that someone would want to or feel the need to disrupt that,” Cornford said.
Cornford was still hoping to hold a service tomorrow as usual because he understood the damage was mainly limited to two breakout rooms.
Anglican Church of The Epiphany was one of seven churches targeted in arson attacks overnight in Masterton, including four that caught alight. Photo / Google Maps
Schools and other churches have offered the use of their facilities if needed, he said.
“One thing that’s heartening to see in the middle of these types of moments is the way the community rallies together both within the faith community and the wider community as well.”
Damage to the Masterton churches ranged from moderate to significant, Fire and Emergency said.
It could also have been worse given other churches were also targets, police said.
“Police have undertaken checks at other churches in the town this morning and have located evidence to suggest three further churches were targeted but did not catch alight,” police said.
Police remain at the fire scenes this morning, alongside Fire and Emergency teams.
“Officers will also be conducting reassurance patrols, including in nearby towns Featherston and Carterton,” police said.
They asked for anyone with information that could assist them to please contact police via 105.
Masterton's Epiphany Church was targeted in a suspicious fire. Photo / NZME
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
