The recent fire at the Sicamous United Church is now being investigated as arson after having initially been deemed suspicious.  

First reported on Sunday, Aug. 25 at 705 Trans-Canada Highway Frontage Road, the fire was officially upgraded and considered to be intentionally set. 

"It's an arson investigation and we're gathering evidence and reviewing it," fire Chief Lorenzo De Arcangelis confirmed. "Then we'll be sending out a report to the RCMP... when we're successful in identifying the persons or people involved."

He added that he can't confirm or deny at this point if any suspects have been identified, but said they're reviewing a lot of surveillance footage and conducting interviews. The cause also remains under investigation. 

"What I can share with you is that it is incendiary," he said, meaning it was something intended to cause a fire. "That's very broad, but that's exactly the best way to describe it; incendiary in nature and suspicious."

Sgt. Murray McNeil confirmed that, pointing out some questionable actions by young bystanders.

"We did note that there were some youth in the area that were nearby watching... seen by the police and by the fire department when they arrived," he said. "And the youth dispersed, so that's suspicious in nature."

United Church Rev. Sun-Young 'Sunny' Kim said the outside and some of the inside of the thrift store door was damaged. The store and church were unscathed but remain temporarily closed. 

"Since it seems to be done on purpose, the whole building is not accessible during investigation," she explained, with a notice posted by the fire department confirming that. 

Anyone with information on the fire is encouraged to contact Di Arcangelis at 250-836-2477 or the local RCMP detachment at 250-836-2878.