Historic 117-Year-Old Portland Church To Be Demolished After Arson Attack

A historic, 117 year-old church in Portland, OregonAfter being irreparably damaged, a fire This week. 

Police We have arrested a 27-year-old Cameron David Storer, a man who also claims he is a ghost. Nicolette FaitFor allegedly lighting fire to the church. The office of Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt referred To Storer Use “they” In a press release detailing charges, pronouns are used. 

Storer He was charged with two counts each of first-degree arson and second-degree arson. 

Demolition The 3,000-square foot Old Portland Korean ChurchWhich? opened In 1905, began Friday After the three-alarm blaze on Tuesday. The After the decision to demolish the church, Portland Fire And Rescue It was determined by drone footage that the structure of the building had suffered too much damage to be saved. 

Out Control! pic.twitter.com/jz2UeIEQfw

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Workers Local preservationists stood by in the hope of saving some sections of the church, but the steeple of the 100-year old church was toppled. “They’re not very confident that those will be salvageable once the building gets knocked over,” Val BallestremLocal Architectural Heritage Center, told KPTV. “Having a piece from the building really enforces our ability to tell that story.”

The preservationists hope to save stained glass windows, and the church’s cornerstone, and the weathervane. 

The The steeple of a historic Portland The church fell Friday afternoon. The The building was more than 100 years old when an arsonist set off a three-alarm flame that tore through it Tuesday evening. pic.twitter.com/2YE5NtaOQK

— FOX 12 Oregon (@fox12oregon) January 6, 2023

“What was really interesting was how the main tower flexed. They pushed it pretty hard and it’s a pretty big machine and so it flexed before it fell, they really had to work hard. Whoever is operating that crane really has an unbelievable skill set to see how he will maneuver get stuff to where he needed and then push in the right direction. It’s a horrible thing to have happen but to see them take it down is pretty impressive,” Local Hank Schottland said. 

Before Local authorities stated that the fire destroyed the church, which had not been used in 10 years. Authorities Also, it was stated that Storer Wanted to “take credit” And claimed to use a Bic Lighter to lighten the fire. 

StorerAccording to police, the victim, who has a history in schizophrenia, claimed that voices in him promised to. “mutilate” him if he did not burn the church, according to the district attorney’s office. 

Police Storer Another injury victim claimed that she used 10 doses of oxycodone daily. 

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