Fires At Churches In Bethesda Lead To Arson Investigations

BETHESDA, MD — Three churches were damaged in Bethesda over the weekend, with fires at two of them, according to Montgomery County fire officials.

Around 2:15 a.m. on Sunday, Montgomery County firefighters found several church pews on fire at Saint Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church, at 9601 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda near the Capital Beltway.

A fire also was reported at North Bethesda United Methodist Church early Saturday morning, causing damage outside the church. Vandals also damaged the Wildwood Baptist Church in Bethesda early Saturday morning, officials said.

"These churches are within a few mile radius of each other," Pete Piringer, spokesperson for the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, told CNN. "We can't conclusively say right now that they are connected, but they are all very similar."

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich called the attacks on the churches "completely unacceptable."

"The criminal activity that took place over the weekend does not represent the values of inclusion and equity that we are striving for in the communities of this county," Elrich said. "We pride ourselves on our diversity of religious communities. A hateful incident against one community impacts us all."

Elrich said his office has reached out to each of the churches to see if they need any assistance. He also has spoken with the county fire chief and police chief about the incidents and asked them to keep him updated on the investigations.

The fire at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Parish damaged several pews but was quickly extinguished, Piringer told The Washington Post. He said investigators think the fire was set intentionally. Sunday Mass was moved to another part of the church, Piringer said.

Fire officials were alerted to the fire by an automatic alarm. When they arrived on the scene, crews noticed flames coming from several pews in the church's main area, Fox5 reported.

In remarks livestreamed Sunday, Rev. Samuel Giese informed the St. Jane Frances de Chantal congregation that their parish had been vandalized overnight.

"I believe that this because of the church’s stand on the issue of life, when it begins and that it should be protected," Giese said. "And that this is one of the manifestations of the deep divisions right now in our country."

In the early morning fire on Saturday at North Bethesda United Methodist Church, at 10100 Old Georgetown Rd., the main part of the church was not affected and damage was minimal, Piringer said.

When an investigator was leaving the site, he came across a couple of damaged headstones and some other wood material on the road that investigators believe came from the nearby Wildwood Baptist Church, at 10200 Old Georgetown Rd., he said.

Fire investigators with the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service are asking for the community’s help in their investigation of the two fires. The public can call the county’s arson tip line at 240-777-2263 if they have information about the incidents.