Jehovas Witness Online

For the second time in 10 days the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in University Heights was the target of an arsonist.

Firefighters were called out at the hall on the 2000-block of Adams Ave. early Friday morning, after a passerby noticed "666" painted on the front doors and saw black smoke pouring from the building.

A man, who had stopped to see a friend in the area, smelled smoke and called police.

"I smelled burning rubber and I looked around and I saw smoke from the building at the corner," said witness Greg Blume.

Arson investigators and A.T.F. agents were on scene to try and determine the cause of the fire. San Diego police will be handling the incident as a hate crime.

Firefighters and police responded to the same building at midnight on Dec. 21. Police responded to the call after a fire alarm inside the building went off, when officers arrived they saw smoke immediately called for assistance. Officers also noticed when they arrived the front door to the hall was wide open.

During the first fire, investigators found someone had set the stage on fire. MAST investigators said the suspect used matches to set several fires on the stage and drapes. Kingdom Hall members noticed a stereo missing and investigators initially believed the arsonist may have been trying to cover up the theft.

Firefighters estimated the total damage for the first fire was $70,000.
 

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