Fire destroys church under construction

Tim Pratt and David Kihara

Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2005 | 11:01 a.m.

A $3 million Mormon church under construction in North Las Vegas was destroyed by fire this morning and authorities suspect the fire was intentionally set.

The official cause of the fire at 5975 Clayton Street near Ann Road and Decatur Boulevard remained under investigation this morning by local fire officials and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents.

But Terri Davis, assistant chief of the North Las Vegas Fire Department, said this morning that the blaze was "suspicious in nature" and an accelerant apparently was used.

Also there were some people reportedly seen near the church before the fire started, she said.

The fire began about 1 a.m., and about 10 units responded to the two-alarm fire, Davis said. Although the fire was largely extinguished within 45 minutes, it continued to smolder at 10 a.m. this morning, she said.

Keith Heinzerling, resident agent in charge for the local office of the Bureau of the ATF, confirmed this morning that his agency had been called in to help with an investigation of the fire.