MISSOULA – The Ravalli County sheriff’s office is investigating an apparent arson fire at the First Baptist Church in Hamilton.
The fire was reported at about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Volunteer firefighters called law enforcement after discovering someone had broken into the building and entered several rooms in the church.
The fire appears to have been set in a pile of books on the floor of a basement room.
Most of the damage to the church was caused by smoke. A damage estimate is not yet available.