An early morning fire last Friday at an Episcopal Church in San Francisco’s Mission District is being investigated as arson. At approximately 2:30 am on Good Friday an unknown individual placed cardboard against the side of St John the Evangelist Episcopal Church and set it ablaze. The fire spread to the wooden walls of the church but was extinguished without causing major damage.
The Rev. Kevin Deal, vicar of St John the Evangelist, told KGO television the “fire department responded extremely quickly and said to me many times that they were very careful not to damage the organ, which we were so grateful for because this thing is a treasure.”
“There were fire trucks all up and down Julian (street), and the big ladder over the church and water flowing through the streets and it smelled like fire, and so I thought the church was done for, the church building.”
He told the Episcopal News Service “This was an arsonist looking to burn down the church, and it’s obvious from the videos we have.” noting the same person was caught on security videos setting a fire early Saturday morning at an apartment building not far from the church. That building suffered significant damage, and two people were slightly injured, according to news reports.
A homeless shelter operated by the parish was evacuated during the fire and remains closed while repairs are underway. However, the Fire Marshall allowed the church to reopen for the Saturday Easter Vigil and Sunday Easter service.
The cost of repairs is not yet known, but the parish has vowed to repair the wood shingle building.
