Officials Believe Queens Church Community Center Fire Was Intentional
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Fire marshals believe someone intentionally started a fire and vandalized a church community center in Woodhaven, Queens.
The fire happened overnight Sunday into Monday at the Christ Evangelical Lutheran Center, officials said.
Firefighters said a small fire was started in the recreation room, sources told CBS2.
A custodian said the damage could have been a lot worse if he had not noticed the lights were on at 2 a.m.
He said he called for help after seeing the fire inside.
"Someone, you know, wrecked the place; torched the place up; put holes in the walls; set the floor on fire; had the stove lit with the gas," said custodian Nat Rodriguez.
The vandals were gone when Rodriguez looked inside. The fire was quickly put out and no one was hurt.
The center was actually due to close in the next few weeks, CBS2 reported.