Bass River church claimed in latest string of arsons

A 140-year-old Bass River church was severely damaged Tuesday morning in a fire that is believed to have been deliberately set.

According to BeersvilleFire Chief Mark Perry, there have been 27 deliberately set firesoverthe last year.

The fire at St. Bartholomew's Roman Catholic Church was reported at around 5 a.m.

Rev. Alfred Desautelswas not allowed in the building, but doesn't believe mass will be held there for a long time, if ever.

What will they do next if they burned a church?- Mark Perry, BeersvilleFire Chief

"Will they rebuild it? I don't know," he said.

"Half the roof would have to be replaced, the back end of the building would have to be replaced."

Firefighters responded to a 911 call from someone who lives near the church around5 a.m. About 30 firefighters fought the blaze for approximately four hours.

Arsons 'definitely escalating'

The fire chief says suspicious fires are definitely escalating.

"It used to be just abandoned houses where there was no dollar lost," he explained."They burned a new garage last Saturday night orSundaymorning in the main river and they burned fourbig things in the last [twoor threeweeks].

"And it's getting to be burning like you know, buildings that people live in. Thechurch was crazy, I don't know why they would do that."

Perry said the RCMP and the regional fire marshal are investigating the fire

"We're starting to think now, what will they do next if they burned a church?" said Perry.