MUKILTEO, Wash. – Investigators say a fire at the Mormon church in Mukilteo was deliberately set.
"It started on the exterior, in the rear of the middle of the building," said Mukilteo Assistant Fire Chief Brian McMahan.
Investigators say the fire at the the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on Chenault Beach Dr. and Harbor Pointe Blvd. started at about 3 o'clock Saturday morning.
Investigators say despite that early hour, some people were out walking nearby and the witnesses were being interviewed for possible leads on a suspect.
All day, churchgoers past and present visited the site, seeking answers. The answer they got, that firefighters believed it was arson, was not what they wanted to hear.
"Really?" asked Steve Brodhead, who said he grew up in the church. "I feel very bad for the person that would inflict this type of thing, and I'm sorry they made that type of choice."
For Brandon Smith, the church is where memories were made.
"I grew up in this church and made friends," he said.
It's also where Rebecca and Timothy Berman were married.
"I've been going here since I was 12. Our daughter was blessed here," said Rebecca as she wiped away tears.
By daybreak it was clear the church was a total loss.
"I'm angry, I'm mad, I'm upset," said Timothy Berman.
When firefighters first arrived at the scene they quickly determined that they would not be able to enter the building.
"They could hear some movement, sounded like the roof was going to collapse," said McMahan. "Essentially the roof has collapsed in the middle and burned outward to the sides and collapsed all the way through."
While most of the building is brick, parts of the roof are wood and plastic, said McMahan.
"The defensive attack was ordered early on, or originally, crews have never gone inside to the fire," he added.
Sjon Stevens has been a member of the church since 1997, and even raised his three kids there.
"It's hard to believe, you know?" he said. "You've seen a building for so many years, and to see it in this condition is pretty startling."
Longtime church member Connie Carey said the fire is devastating.
"We were here for a church activity last night and left at 9 o'clock and woke up to the news report at 7:30 this morning," said Carey. "It's heart-wrenching."
The 700-member congregation is now figuring out where they will hold service - and why they've been targeted.
"I mean there's not a lot of tolerance for different religions, it seems like in our country but just because we don’t believe the same doesn't mean we can't live in the same world and that's what bother me the most," said Rebecca Berman.
No one was injured.
"Buildings we can always rebuild, but memories and people we can't," said Brodhead.
Authorities have not said yet how they believe the fire was started.
A hotline has been set up for those with information. The number is 1-800-55-ARSON.
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