BATTLE GROUND, Wash. — Fire destroyed an old church and nearby house on the same property in Battle Ground early Monday morning.
No one was hurt.
Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue said the fire was human-caused. A neighbor approached a fire investigator with surveillance video of a vehicle pulling up to the church and “possible flaming material being directed at the church from the vehicle.” The vehicle was seen speeding away.
Fire crews were called to the church, located at 24209 NE 92nd Avenue, around 2:24 a.m. after a neighbor across the street heard an explosion.
Steve Slocum owns the property and lives there with his sister and nephew.
"My nephew and I were out in back of the church talking. And we heard a big bang. And it was, you know, one of those big firecrackers. And I went in the house and he comes running in the house a few minutes later and says the church is on fire," Slocum said Monday.
Firefighters said “extreme clutter in the church and around the property” made it difficult to stretch hoses around the buildings. Hundreds of mannequins were posed in the church and around the yard.
Slocum said the church building hasn't been used as a church for decades. It was last used as an astronomy shop, and after that it was used for storage.
Slocum is a retired professional photographer and a lifelong collector of things. From the road you can see he has a quirky sense of humor and likes dolls and mannequins. He has them lined up on the edge of the property and two appear to be sitting down to a turkey dinner. He also enjoys collecting antique dolls and record players.
Most of the collections are now destroyed.
The fire spread from the church to his house, along with sheds and carports.
There were no fire hydrants nearby so crews used four water tenders to bring water to the fire from over a mile away.
The fire investigator will work with Clark County sheriff’s deputies to examine the surveillance video.
If you know anything about the cause of the fire you are asked to contact the Clark County Fire Marshall's office.