By Jeff Kunerth
Orlando Sentinel
ORLANDO — Arson investigators were looking Tuesday into two fires in three days that destroyed the Orlando Baha’i Center in Orlando.
The first fire in the one-story wood building on Hillcrest Street was reported at 4:48 a.m. Sunday. When the Orlando Fire Department responded to the second blaze at 12:55 a.m. Tuesday, flames were shooting through the roof.
“It is unusual for something like that to happen, especially this much down time between the two,” said Orlando Fire Department Cmdr. Vicki Robles.
A spokesperson for the Baha’i Center said the fires are baffling to the members, who number about 300 in the metropolitan Orlando area. Before the fires, there had been no threats, vandalism or break-ins at the center, said Kelsey Vargas, secretary for the center’s governing assembly.
“We don’t have any reason to suspect that anyone would wish us harm,” Vargas said.
The center was created in 1974, Vargas said. Until the Orlando center can be replaced, members plan to meet in each other’s homes, Vargas said. “For generations people have used it as a place for devotions and children’s classes and for moral and spiritual development. People are very saddened that this has happened.”
About four years ago, the center received a thick package of hate mail decorated with swastikas and containing a “Bin Laden” return address, said George Via, a member of the center. He said police suspected that it was sent by a mentally ill person.
The Baha’i faith, which preaches unity of God, religion and mankind, originated in 19th century Iran and has more than 5 million followers worldwide. The Orlando center had just celebrated the birthday of one of the religion’s prophets Oct. 12 and was scheduled to observe the holiday of the birth of Baha’i founder Baha’u’llah on Nov. 20.
Copyright 2009 Sentinel Communications Co.