Six Nations police investigating fire at Ohsweken church

Six Nations Police are investigating after an Ohsweken church caught fire while someone was inside.

In a news release, police said they responded to a structure fire at the Johnsfield Baptist Church, located at 2518 5th Line Road, just after 2 a.m. Monday.

Police say a person who lives at the church told them he heard a vehicle door slam before he came outside and saw a small fire" on the roof. The man said he extinguished the fire himself with a bucket of water.

The resident told police he was the only person in the church at the time but that his family lives on the lower level.

This is the second Six Nations church fire in less than a month.

Across Canada, churches have been set on fire in recent weeks as more mass unmarked graves are discovered at residential schools.

Police say they are continuing to investigate the Ohsweken church fire, which they call an arson attempt."

The Office of the Fire Marshal will not be attending the scene. In a statement, an office spokesperson said generally speaking," the fire marshal's office provides on-scene assistance as requested" and usually responds to requests for assistance when there are fatalities, serious injuries or significant damage.

It is unlikely on-scene assistance was requested in this case as it appears the fire was small," said Kristy Denette, spokesperson for the Office of the Fire Marshal. As this particular case appears to be arson, it would be police-led, and our office would defer questions to Six Nations Police."

Denette confirmed the office provided on-scene support for the church fire in Six Nations last month.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Six Nations Police at 519-445-2811 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or crimestoppersbb.com.

More to come ...

Katrina Clarke is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: katrinaclarke@thespec.com