Authorities have determined that a second fire at the former St. Ann's Catholic Church in Buffalo, New York, was intentionally set, marking the latest incident involving the historic property after another blaze damaged the site just days earlier, as reported by the Gateway Pundit.
According to the Buffalo Fire Department, firefighters responded to reports of a fire at the former church on Broadway at approximately 5:45 p.m. Tuesday.
Fire crews located the fire and extinguished it before it spread throughout most of the building.
Investigators later ruled that the fire was the result of arson.
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St. Ann's Catholic Church was constructed in 1886 and served the Buffalo community for more than a century before permanently closing in August 2024.
St. Anne’s Church, Buffalo, NY. Permanently closed. Sold to the Islamic community for $250,000 who are converting the historic church into a mosque. pic.twitter.com/D21oTu18ax
— Father V (@father_rmv) August 11, 2024
Following its closure, the property was sold for $250,000 to an Islamic community. According to the report, there have been plans to convert the former Catholic church into a mosque.
The latest fire came less than one week after firefighters battled another major blaze at the same property.
Last Friday, the Buffalo Fire Department responded to a three-alarm fire at the former church.
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The report did not indicate whether investigators have connected that incident to the arson fire reported this week.
The church property has experienced multiple significant fires this year.
In January, firefighters responded to a four-alarm fire at the former St. Ann's Roman Catholic School, which is located next to the church.
According to the report, that fire destroyed much of the building's interior, although the exterior structure remained standing.
The extent of the damage caused by Tuesday's arson has not been fully disclosed. Officials said it remains unclear exactly where within the building the fire originated.
A spokesperson for the Buffalo Fire Department told WGRZ that investigators concluded the latest fire was intentionally set after examining the scene.
WGRZ reported:
"The Buffalo Fire Department was once again called to fight a fire at the former St. Ann's Church on Broadway, with investigators determining arson as its cause.
A spokesperson for Buffalo Fire told 2 On Your Side that fire crews were sent to the site of the former church at around 5:45 p.m. Tuesday for reports that another fire had started in the building.
They add that fire investigators have ruled the cause of the fire as arson.
Firefighters were able to find the fire and extinguish it before it spread to most of the building. It is unknown exactly where the fire was in the building and how badly the building was damaged.
This is the second fire that was started at the former church in just the past week. Last Friday, Buffalo Fire tackled a three-alarm fire at the site, and in January, a four-alarm fire ripped through the church's neighboring building, the former St. Ann's Roman Catholic School.
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That first fire destroyed much of the inside of the former school; however, the exterior is still standing."
Authorities have not announced any arrests in connection with the arson investigation, and no information has been released regarding a possible suspect or motive.
The investigation remains ongoing as fire officials continue working to determine the circumstances surrounding the latest blaze and whether it is connected to the previous fires at the property.
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