Firefighters halt Alberton church blaze

Mineral County law enforcement officials are investigating a suspicious fire that damaged the United Methodist Church in Alberton in the early-morning hours Monday.

According to Mel Holtz of the Frenchtown Rural Fire District, firefighters were able to knock down the blaze before it spread beyond the basement. The church did have heavy smoke damage, however.

The Mineral County Sheriff’s Office would not confirm or deny if an arrest had been, but said it would issue a press release later Tuesday.

Holtz told the Independent an arrest was made. Church pastor Waveland King said he believed the person that was arrested was an Alberton resident, but he said he didn’t know who it was.

“Someone was going through something traumatic at the time and we hope the person gets the help they need,” King said. “It’s (church) a mess and we’re working through the steps to get it cleaned up, but fortunately, no one was hurt,” King said.

King said parishioners would have to attend services at the church in Superior this Sunday.

“We’ll try and get a building in the community in Alberton for future services, but it will take some time to get it cleaned up,” King said. “We’ll just take it one step at a time.”

The church, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has been a fixture in Alberton since 1912.

“We’re lucky we got it under control and happy we could save the building,” Holtz said. “You don’t like to lose these old, historic buildings.”

The Montana State Fire Marshall investigated the scene with the Sheriff’s Office and the fire was determined to be suspicious.

No one was injured and the church was insured, according to Holtz.