Police, firefighters investigate two church fires in B.C.’s West Kootenay region

CASTLEGAR, B.C. – A suspicious fire has destroyed part of a Catholic church in the West Kootenay city of Castelgar, B.C.

The blaze was one of two that broke out late Monday night at local churches.

Mounties say during the first fire a van owned by the Red Cross was engulfed in flames in the parking lot of the Kinnaird Community Church.

The second fire broke out just before midnight at St. Rita’s Parish, destroying the main church structure but leaving rectory and the hall undamaged.

Nobody was injured by either of the fires.

Police and firefighters say they have begun examining both scenes to determine what caused the fires.