Church Fire in Maidstone Deemed Suspicious, Man Arrested
Firefighters responded to a church fire in Maidstone, Melbourne's west, that occurred in suspicious circumstances overnight.
Emergency Response
Fire Rescue Victoria received reports of a blaze inside the church just after 1:00 AM. Responding crews quickly located the front section of the single-storey weatherboard building on fire.
Swift Containment and Damage
The fire had extended to the building's roof. Firefighters brought the blaze under control within six minutes, preventing major structural damage. The front wall and roof space were, however, affected by the fire.
Investigation and Arrest
Police are investigating the incident and consider the fire to be suspicious. Authorities confirmed that no individuals were inside the church when the fire started.
A 36-year-old man from Footscray was arrested nearby and is scheduled for an interview in connection with the fire.