Church catches fire on Walla Walla’s east side

WALLA WALLA – The Walla Walla Fire Department responded at 9:40 p.m. Monday to the Walla Walla Eastgate Seventh-day Adventist Church, 380 N. Tausick Way, for a commercial structure fire.

Fire Chief Eric Wood said officers from the Walla Walla Police Department were dispatched to the area after the first reporting party was walking nearby and could hear an audible alarm coming from the area of the church. When officers arrived, they could smell smoke and could see fire coming from the back of the church.

Firefighters arrived on scene and reported that the fire was in a room near the back of the church. Crews gained access and had the fire under control at 10:01 p.m.

No injuries to civilians or firefighters were reported.

Pastor Eric Sayler said the fire ignited in the kitchen area and that the damage was contained to the fellowship hall.

“Over the next few days, we will learn more about next steps for the process of cleanup and repair,” Sayler said.

Damages to the church have been estimated at $100,000.

The cause of the fire was accidental, due to spontaneous combustion of rags that were saturated in linseed oil. The Walla Walla Fire Department would like to remind the public to properly dispose of cloths or rages used with linseed oil to prevent accidents like this from occurring.

Walla Walla County Fire District No. 4 and College Place Fire Department also responded as part of a mutual-aid agreement.

Photo via Kevin Donovan

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