Flames show from a fire at the St. George East Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019.
ST. GEORGE – A new stake center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was destroyed by a fire on Saturday. The building is considered a total loss. Police are investigating the fire as a crime.
No persons are believed to have been injured by the Saturday fire.
The building, situated across the street from the St. George Temple, was intended to be a replacement for an older building that had been torn down last year.
In a press conference, St. George Police officer Tiffany Atkin said, “We are treating it as a crime right now.”
The fire was first reported early Saturday morning, at about 1 a.m. The fire spread from one side of the building to the other.
The fire brought down the roof and ceiling. The battle against the fire became more dangerous as a result of the collapse.
Little more than the frame of the building remains after the fire was extinguished.
The stake presidency of the St. George East Stake offered a statement on Facebook.
Anyone with information regarding the fire is encouraged to call St. George Police at 435-627-4300.