Northeast Fresno church fire investigated as possible arson

Officers are investigating a fire Wednesday at a northeast Fresno church as a possible arson, Fresno police said.

Around 9:50 p.m., officers went to Holy Spirit Catholic Church near Friant Road and Champlain Drive regarding a burglary alarm, Fresno police said. Officers saw a small fire had been started and that a window was broken on the east side of the building.

Fresno firefighters also went to the church and were extinguishing a second small fire, Fresno police said. Authorities found a gas container near the second fire.

Witnesses said a white man, aged 25 to 35, around 6 feet tall and weighing 175 pounds, was seen fleeing through Valley Oak Elementary School, Fresno police said. Witnesses said the man may have been bald. He was wearing a gray, baggy sweatshirt with a red symbol, and green camouflage shorts.

The fires caused minor damage, police said.

This story was originally published March 24, 2016 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Northeast Fresno church fire investigated as possible arson."