RCMP and the Office of the Fire Commissioner are investigating a suspicious fire at a Manitoba church.

On November 4, 2019, at approximately 6:00 a.m., Pembina Valley RCMP and the Carman-Dufferin Fire Department responded to a fire at a church on 1st Street NW, in Carman, Manitoba.

“On arrival the fire department found that smoke alarms were activated and upon entering the building they did find some smoke. Further investigation found a fire in one of the rooms on the east side of the church building,” says Carman-Dufferin Fire Chief Ben Vanderzwaag.

Crews were able to extinguish the fire before it spread to other areas of the building.

Vanderzwaag says, “the lack of damage for this fire can be directly attributed to the smoke alarms and heat detectors that were in the building. They did their job and notified the alarm company which could ensure a call out of the fire department. We were able to respond in a timely manner and extinguish the fire with minimal damage."

The RCMP is asking anyone with information is asked to contact Pembina Valley RCMP at 204-822-4476 or call CrimeStoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.