March 3, 2002
Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune
On March 3, 2002, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that "a fire at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in El Cajon [CA] is being investigated as arson and a hate crime, fire and police officials said... Firefighters answered an alarm from the church [on March 2, 2002]... and found smoke coming from the sanctuary area, investigators said. The fire was extinguished in less than 10 minutes, but damage estimated at more than $100,000 included some burned pews and vandalism. Firefighters also noticed a broken window... The vandalism and the way the fire was set led investigators to suspect arson, officials said."