A fire that caused about $3,000 in damage at the Unitarian Church of Hinsdale Sunday, Nov. 1, is being investigated as an arson by Hinsdale police.

No one was injured in the fire, which triggered an automatic fire alarm at 12:07 p.m., authorities said.

By 12:10 p.m., Hinsdale fire and police emergency personnel responded to the fire, which occurred in a classroom in the church’s Religious Education Center.

“It was quickly contained with a hand-held water fire extinguisher,” said Fire Chief Mike Kelly.
Kelly said several religious garments called “stoles” were consumed in the fire, which also caused damage to carpeting and one wall.

According to Deputy Police Chief Mark Wodka, the fire is being investigated as an arson.

“We continue to investigate the fire, which was suspicious in nature,” Wodka said. “The garments that were burned were hanging on a hangar against a wall, and there were matches available in the room. Based on our initial investigation, the fire was probably set intentionally and was not an accident.”

Wodka said although there was no church service going on at the time, the room had been used for an activity between 10 and 11:45 a.m. just prior to the fire.

“We are looking into who had been in the room prior to the fire,” Wodka said.
Rev. Edward Searl, minister at the church, said no damage was done to the church itself.

“The religious education center is separate from the church. We are now waiting to see the results of the investigation,” Searl said.

Kelly said the Clarendon Hills and Western Springs fire departments assisted on the call.