Beloved church space gutted by Surrey strip mall fire

Jonathan Gallardo stood behind yellow caution tape, staring at a gutted strip mall unit near Surrey's Gateway Skytrain station Monday. Scorched wood and chairs could be seen through the window and the air smelled of smoke.

Just one day earlier, the space was filled with church-goers attending their weekly worship.

"It's really sad, because it seems like it was helping the neighbourhood," said Gallardo, a leader at Breath of Life Church, a bilingual church serving the local Latin community that had been operating out of the unit for less than a year.

At 2:30 a.m. Monday, patrolling officers in the area noticed smoke and flames billowing from the strip mall at 108 Ave. and City Pkwy. 

A man seen leaving the building was arrested but released later that day after investigators deemed the fire was not suspicious.

At least one unit was completely destroyed, and police say other businesses are being evaluated for additional damage. Broken windows on neighbouring units were visible.

Community loss

Gallardo says he cried when he first received word his church had burned down.

"We were only here for eight months and we were really excited that we found a place and an opportunity to preach the word of God," Gallardo said. "Now, it's gone, but I know our hearts are strong. We're going to find another place and we're going to continue to help the community."

The Surrey chapter of the All Nations Full Gospel Church also operated out of the space, largely serving members of the local African community.

Member Eddie McGee told CBC News he'd been attending that church for more than a decade.

"It's a very big loss for the community," said McGee. "It's pretty much a family-bond church."