In April, a 12-year-old boy confessed he set a small fire near the window of an empty LDS building in Murray. The blaze at 469 W. Germania (5150 South) did less than $5,000 damage. The boy was booked into the juvenile system on aggravated arson charges.
In March, a Utah County man set fire to curtains inside an LDS meetinghouse at 660 N. Redwood Road, but the fire did no other damage. Church members held the man until police arrived.
Arson was suspected as the cause of blaze at an LDS ward house near 6400 W. 3500 South in West Valley City in June 2001. The fire caused $300,000 in damage.
An arson fire at an LDS Church seminary building in Sandy in January 2000 caused about $50,000 in damage. Unlike most seminary buildings that are free-standing, this structure at 1300 E. Turquoise Drive (10020 South) is part of an LDS Church building. The fire primarily harmed the seminary office, although there was smoke damage throughout the church. An 18-year-old man was arrested soon afterward.
Arson was suspected in a fire that ruined the organ at a South Jordan LDS ward house in March 1997. The fire in the building at 2750 W. 11800 South also caused extensive smoke damage.
Fire inspectors believed arson was responsible for a fire at an LDS stake center at 4845 S. Woodhaven Drive in Taylorsville in November 1990. The building was evacuated after a fire began in a restroom trash can and two boys were spotted running from the building. Damage was estimated at $1,500.