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gitauab*titn ï1>aî uto i t' ' Mlos omunity Newspaper Since 1860 â 87&uîii CNA NandCanadas Top Comtnumftx Nevtspaper www.miltoncanadianchampion.com R EA L ES T AT E See what's on the market inside N EW S Former mayor passes away C 0 M M U N I T Y Canada celebrated Historic church intentionally set ablaze:, police Witnesses spot suspect runningfrom St. Pauls' By Stephanie Hounseli CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF Shc.kccI '(l t'i' 'tIiiic 'Aý 'ain 14 i i s t'.'o)ii( togeii ianîd Î,, Ai.Ii..1A it. fîghieî s batied a suspiciocis blaze \Vednesday nighit at the historie Si. Pauls United Church in downtown Milton. Que of those people was St. Paul's Rex'. John Beuham, who said he'd received a cati [rom the church custodian [rantically yelling, "The towers on [ire! " "1 got there and stood there like every - one else in dishelief... It was almost lhke a movie," Benham said. "People in their pajamas were standing around going, 'Is this really happening?"' The Main Street [ire was quickly knocked dawn, but not before fine wood was charred and several First World War memorial stained glass panels - win- dows into Multons history - were bro- ken. "Thank God we have pictures of tbem, but they'rc priceless," Benhami said. Haltan Regional Polices Arson Unit and the Milton Fire Department (MFD) say the [ire is suspîcîous. Thc Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal is iux'esîigating. Police said witnesses at the scene saw a man running fromi the area. He's described as a white male, fîve-loot-six, with a stocky build and light brown hair. He was wearing a black jacket and a white hall bat. "A person leeing the scene always sends a [ew red [lags," said Det. Duncan Taylor. Firehighters responded ta the blaze at about 10:10 p.m. after a 911 caîl was made by a couple parked nearby, said MFD Deputy Chief Dave Pratt. The ire At right, smoke billows tram the church Wednesdlay night. Inset, firefighters were forced ta break several stained glass win- dows to extînguish the blaze. GRAHAM PAINE / CANADIAN CHAMPION was quiekl>' suppressed, limiting damage ta the cburcb intenior. Pratt said several factors miake the [ire seem suspiciaus - the cause remains undetermined - iucluding that the [ire seems ta haxve xtarted on the [baor, au tînusual place. "It triggers y'our seuxex ta say, 'This î.hîcsu't sccm like a normial lire,"' Pratt said. "At ibis point its defînitelx' suspi- cio05.' Beubam saîcl the investigators hîred bv the insurance t.ompanyý îuld Iimii the cause of tbe [ire is electrical and isu t sus- piclous. The Clîaiîîpiiîîî baxu't been able ta cota firm ibis with the insurance c(ipay. The blaze starîed at the back of the sauctuary, Pratt said. and flimex sîarîed toward the secoud-[loor bateaux: but dîd- u't make iî aIl the way. A couple af' stained glass windows blew out when the cburcb ignited, while others on bath tbe main level and in tbe bell tower bad ta be broken by fire[igbt- ers [or ventilation. *see FIRE on page A2 7429 Fifth Line, Milton, Right at the east end of! MnSt www.taàylornurseryea SAVE ON ALL PLANTS, TREES & SHRUBS 13% off on purchases $100-$199 23% off on purchases of $200-$299 33% off on purchases of $300+ LFo 35yeas .. yur own- &CoutryGareniq Cntr ->90.640 e. ýMRý n