New Haven Mosque Fire: Evidence Of Incendiary Material

NEW HAVEN, CT — City Mayor Toni Harp said there was evidence that incendiary material was used at the Sunday fire at the Diyanet Mosque of New Haven. Damage to the mosque will leave it unusable during the holy month of Ramadan.

Harp said in a statement that the city would bring all its resources to bear if an investigation confirms the blaze was started by arson, according to the New Haven Register.

Fire Chief John Alston said Monday that the fire appears to have been intentional, but declined to release further details of the investigation. State Police and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are also investigating, according to the New Haven Independent.

A fundraiser has been started to help with money for repairs. More than $62,000 has been raised as of Tuesday afternoon.

The fire started near the entrance to the building and spread to the second floor. No one was injured. The mosque was undergoing renovations that were due to be complete months from now.

New Haven Fire Department union President Frank Ricci tweeted that city firefighters aggressively attacked the fire in an effort to save the building.

"Buildings under renovation and places of worship are very dangerous fires," he tweeted.

Leaders at the mosque are working with the city building department to determine if they can have a temporary space to worship, according to the New Haven Independent. Several area houses of worship have offered space to the congregation.

A $2,500 reward is being offered for information about the fire's origins. Anyone with information is asked to call the arson tip line at 1-800-842-7766.