A masked person was caught on a surveillance camera pouring liquid from a gas can, lighting it on fire then fleeing on foot from Regina’s Blessed Sacrament Parish.
Police says fire crews found the church’s back door on fire in early morning on Feb. 9
Shlok Talati · CBC
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Arson attempt at Regina church caught on surveillance camera
Father James Hentges posted this security camera video showing a person lighting fire to the office entrance of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Regina.
A masked person was caught on a surveillance camera pouring liquid from a gas can, lighting it on fire then fleeing on foot from Regina’s Blessed Sacrament Parish.
James Hentges, the pastor at the church, posted the video on social media.
“I saw it all moments after it took place, by smart cam, and I was shocked,” Hentges told CBC.
“Then I saw on other cameras in the house, I could see the smoke coming in, so I was very, very disturbed. Later, when I saw the video, I was even more disturbed.”
Regina police said in a news release that firefighters were called to the church at 2049 Scarth St. at roughly 3:40 a.m CST on Feb. 9. They found the church’s back door on fire and were able to extinguish it.
Investigators determined it was arson, the release said.
The wall next to the door will likely need to be replaced, Hentges said, but the fire did not spread far.
Hentges said the church recently had fire detectors installed that alerted the fire department to the blaze.
He didn’t speculate about why the person may have started the fire but said it appeared to be an intentional act rather than a spur of the moment action.
Friday morning’s fire is not the first time the building has been vandalized, Hentges said, noting the church has been graffitied and the Loraas disposal bin set aflame in the past, “but nothing quite as dramatic or as astonishing as this.”
The parish’s Saturday service was moved elsewhere and its website says there will be no scheduled Eucharist until Wednesday, “because of the arson/fire, and necessary clean-up.”
Regina police communications officer Lindsey Hoemsen said Monday police are still investigating but the arson has not been categorized as a hate crime at this time. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 306-777-6500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Based in Regina, Shlok Talati is a reporter with CBC Saskatchewan. Talati joined CBC News as a Donaldson Scholar in 2023. He has since worked with The World This Hour, CBC Toronto’s digital desk, and CBC Sask. He holds a master of journalism from the University of King’s College, Halifax. You can reach him at shlok.talati@cbc.ca
With files from Dayne Patterson
