Fire Devastates Hermiston Adventist Church
10 June 2018 | The Hermiston Seventh-day Adventist Church in Hermiston, Oregon suffered extensive fire damage Sunday morning. Fire started in the west wing of the church. Fire fighters arrived on the scene at 4:30 in the morning but were unable to put out the fire before the inside of the church had been badly damaged. Umatilla County Fire District 1 estimated the fire damage to be worth $3 million.
The East Oregonian reported that the source of the fire is unknown but the UCFD later posted on their Facebook account that the fire started near a heat source by an ignition source.
According to the East Oregonian, Hermiston Adventist Church hosts an annual Journey to Bethlehem village (a recreation of the Nativity story) an experience for which it is known in the community.
Police are asking those living nearby if anyone saw suspicious activity that could be linked to the fire. There have not been any updates related to the fire on the church’s Facebook page.