Bethesda

Early Morning Fire at Bethesda Church, Arson Suspected

By Patrick Herron

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services responded to a fire alarm at the St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church on Old Georgetown Rd. around 2:15am Sunday morning and arrived to find several pews on fire inside the church, according to a our Public Safety Correspondent Cordell Pugh. The fire was knocked down a short time later. Sixty-five firefighters responded to the scene and there were no injuries reported. NBC4 reports that this is the second act of vandalism at St. Jane Frances in the past two days, although information on the first incident has not been released. 

Chief Spokesperson for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services’ Pete Piringer reports that the fire is being investigated as arson. Anyone with information is asked to call the arson tipline at 240-777-2263.
Per @mcfrsPIO: @montgomeryCoMD @mcfrs Fire/Explosive Investigators seeking info RE this morning’s (2a) fire at Saint Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church ANYONE w/ any info Call

@mcfrs ARSON Tipline 240.777.2263