Fire at North Side church intentionally set

Fire crews said a small blaze at a Mormon church Tuesday afternoon was intentionally set. Spokane Assistant Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer said a sign hanging on the back of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at 732 W. Indiana Street was set on fire around 2:10 p.m. “It was reported by a passer-by as flames coming from the back of this church,” Schaeffer said, adding that some sort of accelerant was used. Fire crews were able to extinguish the flames before it reached the roof. He said crews are still investigating the incident. Church member Ron Alderson said the brick building has been the subject of mild vandalism in the past, including broken windows and graffiti. “This isn’t a hate thing,” Alderson said. “We’d see more damage than that.” He said he did not know what the sign on the back of the building said before it was burned in the fire.