( CNN ) -- A `` suspicious '' fire devastated the church attended by Alaska Gov . and former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin on Friday night in her hometown of Wasilla , the church 's minister said . Alaska Gov . Sarah Palin reportedly apologized for the possibility the fire was related to her nomination . `` We have no idea what caused it , '' the Rev . Larry Kroon of the Wasilla Bible Church said Saturday , adding that investigators were considering arson and other possible causes . A ladies ' craft group was in the building when the fire broke out , but they got out safely , Kroon said . `` No one was hurt , '' he said . Central Mat-Su Fire Department Chief James Steele said the department was `` treating it as suspicious and as potential arson at this point '' but did not elaborate , The Anchorage Daily News reported . The newspaper said Palin released a statement after the fire in which she said she stopped by the church Saturday morning and offered an apology to the assistant pastor `` if the incident is in any way connected to the undeserved negative attention the church has received since she became a vice presidential candidate . '' Steele said that as many as 40 firefighters from his and neighboring departments fought the blaze , which started about 9:40 p.m. Friday ( 1:40 a.m . ET Saturday ) . Firefighters were on the scene dealing with hot spots until about 5 a.m. Saturday , the Anchorage Daily News reported . The metal church building , which normally accommodates Sunday congregations of up to 1,000 people , was heavily damaged by flames and smoke , Kroon said . `` The fire investigators and insurance people are there now . There 's definitely a lot of damage . I 've heard the figure of $ 1 million , but I do n't know for sure , '' he said . Kroon said he was not at the church when the fire broke out and would not discuss what any of the church members who were there had reported to him . He would not specify how many people were in the building at the time of the blaze . `` They were all adults , and they all got out . We 're trying not to talk about specifics while investigators are still working on finding out what happened . '' Kroon said the nondenominational church , which he described as `` just a local community church , '' is about 30 years old and the church building itself is about 2½ years old . The pastor said church services would be held on schedule Sunday in a nearby school .
Ladies ' craft group escaped safely after fire broke out about 2½ years old about 9:40 p.m. , pastor says . Officials considering arson , Central Mat-Su Fire Department pastor Sarah Palin says . Alaska Gov . Sarah Palin apologizes if fire related to vice presidential nomination .