Fire set at Ballard Church during Sunday service
SEATTLE -- The fire that broke out during a worship service at Ballard Church on Sunday, forcing the evacuation of more than 100 people, was the result of arson, according to the Seattle Fire Department.
Paul Diaz, lead pastor at Ballard Church, said he was in the middle of preaching during the church's 11 a.m. service when the fire started.
"Someone came in from the back, kind of from the kids' area, and says, 'Everybody out; there's a fire,'" Diaz said.
The fire started in the first-floor women's bathroom and filled both stories of the church located at 1460 N.W. 73rd St. with smoke.
Diaz said Ballard Church has more than two-dozen fire extinguishers, and he fortunately knows where they all are. He and other churchgoers were able to use the extinguishers to put out the fire before firefighters arrived.
"In the end, we went through, like, six of those things," Diaz said.
After the Seattle Fire Department's investigation, the Seattle Police Department's Arson Bomb Squad was called in to continue looking into the fire.
Diaz said he initially thought a candle in the bathroom had tipped over or caused the fire in some other way. But, he said investigators said the candle was untouched.
Diaz said it wasn't a great time to have a fire at the church, which is less than two years old and had a record attendance of nearly 300 people at the 11 a.m. Sunday service.
“We’re growing as a new church," he said. "We hope everybody who came out for the service comes back.”
The Seattle Police Department is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest for the arson.
Publicity stunt ?
Never in a million years!! :( The fire was right across from the nursery full of babies.
 @joefuss Nope! It really happened! :(
Woooo Look at Paul! Taking care of Business! Man too much craziness and BC is going on our first missions trip next month. Poor Paul :( Please everyone pray for BC. We really want to create a fun, loving environment to help you learn who Jesus is! And how AWESOME he is! :)
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Man I'm so sad! Our poor church! My prayers go out to the Diaz family all seven of you! Don't worry you guys are so loving and a huge blessing to the neighborhood God is going to use this horrible incident somehow for GOOD!
It's not going to stop us from loving God and loving others!
somehow I find it hard to picture someone getting away with this in the middle of the day, during a service...
This church is in my neighborhood and I've received marketing materials from them. They seem to project themselves in a secular fashion with very little emphasis on religion or religious symbolisms on their brochures. I originally thought they were a cult, like Mars Hill Church in Ballard.Â
@MyTacoma
And F.Y.I. Mars Hill isn't a cult either, I can understand why you would think so but it's a really great church too that helps a lot of people. I don't attend there but my friend does and if you ever watched a sermon, ya Mark Discoll can be an ass but he's really smart and knows his stuff about the bible. He comes off sarcastic but that's his personality and he often humbly points out his faults, he knows he can be a know-it-all he will say so in service and apologize for it. You will hear him say it's all about Jesus, that means it's not all about Mark Discoll, it's about God, people like to listen to him so much cause he really breaks down the bible in a very thought out intellectual way.
Don't believe everything you hear on the news, visit them and see what you think before you start labeling a very successful church a cult, sorry about being rude it just hurts me when the church (i.e.) The body of Christ is misunderstood with false accusations all the time. The church isn't perfect cause people arenât perfect, thatâs why Jesus Christ had to die for us and Mars Hill isn't for everyone but people go to church expecting it to be perfect and are disappointed when it's not. It's a group of imperfect people who love Jesus coming together as a family to worship God, love one another and help each other get through life. Donât like it, donât go, but donât call it a cult!
 @CloSabo  @MyTacoma They may or may not be a cult, but they are definitely a cult of personality.  Mark Driscoll comes off like an ass because he IS an ass.  I attended there enough to be disgusted.  His sarcasm and attitude can be a hindrance to people who are there to learn.  Leaders are called to be extra careful with their tongue, with their attitudes, with everything, so as not to be a hindrance or cause for worry.  His inaugural day tweet alone speaks huge volumes about his ego, his attitude, and it no doubt insulted plenty of his peeps who voted for Obama. Â
 @CloSabo  @MyTacoma Paul does sound like a great guy with his head on tight, leading humbly and with no ego.  I doubt he would ever, ever tell someone, including the President of the United States of America, that they are not a Christian.  That is not a judgement any person should ever make about anyone, but it is done routinely by that pastor and that church.  Anyone who has to defend their leader as 'well, he's an ass, but......' should really think about it.  Sounds like you have a great leader who loves the Lord and the  people in the church.  Good (and bad)  things start at the top and it sounds like you are prepped for doing good things!  Good luck.
@Doxie@MyTacoma
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Long story short though Paul isn't anything like Mark Driscoll! He's too chill! He's an awesome pastor with 5 kids who loves God and is hella funny! So it's just really sad that they did this to our church since I wouldn't wish this on any religious organization whether they are a christian or not, it's wrong to threaten lives like that.
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I'm sorry about any bad feelings your experiences have been with Mars Hill each church is different and my point is I know a lot of good christian people that go to Mars Hill and they are such loving awesome people so it's a little too much calling it a cult. It worries me people wont give church a chance because of things like that. If you think it's a cult keep it to your self let other people go and form their own opinions it might be right for them.
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 @Doxie  @MyTacoma Ya but it's not a cult. People are allowed to dislike any church as much as they want. I don't really like it that much either personally, mainly cause it's not my style that's why I don't go there. But I'm not going to assume it's a cult based off of that. They do empathize that Jesus comes first. And they believe in and teach what's in the bible this is not a cult to me.I don't really want to defend Mark Driscoll just trying to give him some of the benefits of the doubt since as a Christian I know I'm not perfect either. You can bash Mars Hill and insult Mark Driscoll but when people start calling Christian churches cults it gives people the wrong opinion when Mars Hill has done more good than bad for people. Also labeling something based off other people's opinions. He's got strong opinions, he's a complete ass, I mostly agree but he's trying to teach people about Jesus and he obviously loves God, so to me that's not a cult that's just a church that needs to work on some things.
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 @LeslieLouAnn  @CloSabo  @MyTacoma Well, hate to say it, but hopefully it was just kids messing around and it got out of hand quickly.  Scary to think someone would maliciously set the bathroom on fire with a full building, but stranger things have happened.
 @Doxie  @CloSabo  @MyTacoma It was definitely scary. The scariest part being the number of babies and children we had in the building. We all got out really fast. The staff did an incredible job getting every last person out QUICK. But the whole bathroom was engulfed and the church was filling with smoke rapidly. I have NO idea who in the world would do something like this. It truly is such a welcoming, loving, chill, laid back place. I thank God everyone got out OK and that Pastor Diaz and the guys know where all of the fire extinguishers are!! They literally put out a HUGE freaking fire. God is so good in how he protected everyone that day.Â
 @LeslieLouAnn  @CloSabo  @MyTacoma Mars Hill is everywhere, so I don't know how many people might confuse them, but I sure don't blame you.  Do they have any idea who might have done this or why?  It had to have been scary!  Very glad it wasn't much worse.
 @Doxie  @CloSabo  @MyTacoma Hey I completely understand!! I think everyone has an opinion on Mark Driscoll, myself included! I guess I just don't want people to read this happened and confuse the two churches since both are in Ballard.Â
 @LeslieLouAnn  @CloSabo  @MyTacoma I agree - just can't help myself when someone starts defending that guy.  I'm sorry for what happened at your church and very glad nobody got hurt.  Hope whoever started it gets caught too.
 @Doxie  @CloSabo  @MyTacoma What does a fire at Ballard Church have anything to do with Mars Hill or Mark Driscoll?? Just curious. Ballard FM Church and Ballard Mars Hill are NOT the same, nor are they related whatsoever.Â
I go to that church! I can tell you please don't worry It's not a cult. It's actually a really fun Church! Paul Diaz the Pastor tries to apply meaningful messages from the bible into modern day living that will help you have a happier life and a closer walk with God. Ballard Church is great they want to show people Jesus and have a loving church that serves and supports the community. We have something we try to do every month called serve a stranger, where we go out and help with whatever needs to be done, no strings attached.Â
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 @CloSabo It is good that there are these groups for those with too much time on their hands and a desire to meddle in others.
 @contraryjim Hah I wish I had free time! We have to make it silly! Cause we want to help others! Spread the love!
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Come on! honestly you want to turn down free labor? Some people really need help and what's wrong with volentering and helping someone who asks for help? :)
 @MyTacoma Cult??? Yikes. Far from it. Truly- this is a community of loving, wonderful people. The heart of a church has little to do with the religious symbolism found or not found on a brochure.
 @MyTacoma So you're saying they deserved this? What's the point of your comment?
I see everyone's in their Sunday's best...
@Throbbinhood God loves you no matter what you are wearing. If a church cares about how the people are dressed, they care more about their image than showing God's love to the people.
 @Mamasauras  @Throbbinhood Mama is a deep thinker.
 @contraryjim  @Mamasauras  @Throbbinhood One of the reasons why I think this church is so cool....."come as you are"....
Churchgoer #1 "Did you hear pastor Diaz's sermon on Sunday?"
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Churchgoer #2 "No, why?"
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Churchgoer #1 "he was on fire!"...sorry that was a bad joke!
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It is a true blessing that no one was injured in the fire...with about 300 people reacting to an emergency situation a lot could go wrong!
âWeâre growing as a new church," he said. "We hope everybody who came out for the service comes back.â
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Except for at least one person...
Started in the bathroom? So someone sneaking a sly smoke maybe.
@therunner ...or maybe a holy smoke
I hope they find the idiot that did this soon. Anyone who thinks its ok to risk the lives of innocent people needs to be locked up.
sad about the hateful attack, happy that there weren't injuries
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First thought that came to mind from the headline...Hey Pastor, cut back a bit on the fire and brimstone, eh?
And make sure they don't charge it as a "hate" crime. After all it was only a church, and a white church at that...
 @boeman Lol wouldn't it have to have all white families attending if it's a white church. I go there. One of my best friend's, who is black comes with me. We got black ppl bro lol
Plus the Pastor is half Phillipino, your comment doesn't make any sense.
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And it probably is a hate crime against Christians and really loving church endangering several lives. I feel pity for whoever did this though, I hope whoever did this God looks after them still. I don't know why they did it but hopefully it was a really stupid mistake, that they never do again cause God loves them. The police need to take this seriously because that bathroom was right across from the nursery. It wasn't just a danger to the church, it was dangerous to innocent little children. Now that's messed up!
 @boeman Don't worry, they won't. It would certainly be considered a hate crime had this same thing happened at an Islamic Mosque though...and the comment section here would be flooded with liberals blaming it all on conservative Christians.
I hope you are being sarcstic and that is not what you really believe.
I sure hope they find whoever is responsible for this. To endanger anyoneâs life, much less up to 300, is sick behavior.