'This is a real setback for us:' Vancouver church hall damaged in suspicious blaze

An overnight fire that damaged the hall of St. Augustine's Church in Marpole is most likely arson, according to Vancouver police.

Multiple people phoned 911 just after 1 a.m. PT Sunday, after seeing flames coming from the undergroundparkade of the building at West 71st Avenue and Hudson Street.

"It [was]very dark and hot in there," said Battalion Chief John Zacharuk, with Vancouver Fire Rescue Services. "But our guys did a good job and got some water in quickly and cooled it off."

Firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the parkade, but the building sustained smoke and water damage.

Detectives from the VPD's Arson Unit are working with fire investigators to determine the cause of the fire.

Members of the church community, woken up by sirens, all gathered outside to watch fire crews battle the blaze.

"I got married here about a year and a half ago," said Dave Bush, who lives near the church. "That's the coolest part about this church, I know everyone in the 'hood."

Bush said the church is running low on donations, which it uses to run community programs like meals by donation and a food bank.

"This is real setback for us. They weregoing to cut out the Thursday night meals," he said.

"The church is in big, big trouble. This is not helping things at all."

While church services went aheadon Sunday, programming and community meals held in the hall will be cancelled until further notice, said a church bulletin issued on Sunday.

"I started doing some fundraising for them last year," said Andrea Alexander, aMarpoleresident who attends the weekly meals. "It's really hard for them to make ago of it and support this community."

Three years ago a local community service provider closed due to a flood.

Since that time the church has helped provide services such as meals.

"People that live by the river, in tents, they all come here," said Maria Crossan, who volunteers in the church kitchen.

"They come here for breakfast, the food bank, for everything ... without this church here, this neighbourhood is really at a loss."

• Aggressive fire destroys vacant church in Vancouver'sKerrisdaleneighbourhood