Fire destroys church in Kasabonika Lake First Nation

The Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS) says it's investigating a weekend fire that destroyed a church in Kasabonika Lake First Nation.

An on-duty police officer observed the fire on Sunday morning at 7 a.m., according to a news release issued Monday afternoon by the police service.

Community firefighters responded to the blaze with a water truck.

"Unfortunately, despite fire suppression efforts, the church was a total loss," said Scott Paradis, NAPS' media relations coordinator.

Members of the NAPS Criminal Investigations Branchand police working out of the Kasabonika Lake First Nation detachment are now involved in the continued investigation, police said.

They are treating the fire as a possible case of arson.

Police are asking anyone with information about the fire to contact NAPS or to reach out anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.p3tips.com.