TACOMA – St. Charles Borromeo Parish is recovering after a fire damaged the parish office the morning of Sunday, October 24. No one was injured.

A 20-year-old man, described by Tacoma Police as a serial arsonist, was arrested October 28 for setting the St. Charles fire and five others October 23–25, the Tacoma News Tribune reported.

Although the parish canceled its Sunday morning Masses, the community was able to gather for the 5 p.m. Sunday Mass, which was livestreamed via cellphone because there was no electricity or internet service.

At the Mass, St. Charles’ pastor, Father Mike McDermott, told parishioners that the fire inspector thought there may have been some suspicious activity, but had not made a final determination about that.

Most of the fire was in the attic, Father McDermott said, but it went through the whole building, causing a lot of damage. The office has been moved to the parish center, with the front desk in the food bank, the parish website said October 27.

“Let us give God praise and thanks for his many blessings, especially the fact that nobody was hurt through this incident,” Father McDermott told parishioners.

A Sunday morning fire seriously damaged the St. Charles Borromeo Parish office, but no injuries were reported. Photo: Courtesy St. Charles Borromeo Parish Facebook page

The parish school was closed October 25, but power was restored and the school was scheduled to reopen Tuesday, October 26. If phone lines are still down, parents are asked to the call the school’s emergency mobile number in the office.

With parish phone lines still down October 25, parishioners needing to contact the staff were asked to send an email.

Archbishop Paul D. Etienne tweeted about the fire Sunday: “Please keep in your prayers the parishioners of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Tacoma. An early morning fire destroyed their parish office building. Unable to celebrate Masses today due to all the fire equipment, they will celebrate this evening.”