The place, one of California's oldest architectural heritages, was to celebrate its 250th anniversary.
The first investigations on the fire that early Saturday morning destroyed part of the historic Spanish mission of San Gabriel Arcángel, in Los Angeles, They have not been able to determine the origin of the flames or give indications that they were caused, but that possibility is not ruled out.
"Although no formal cause has yet been determined, the preliminary investigation has not shows immediate signs of arson. Investigators are still trying to evaluate the entire structure for more information, ”the city of San Gabriel, Los Angeles County, said in a statement.
“Being a church and how they are aware of the recent vandalism against missionary churches and statues of Junípero SerraThat is part of the investigation, ”said the spokesman for the San Gabriel firefighters, Antonio Negrete.
Burning this place, he was going to celebrate his 250th anniversary, has left many Los Angeles residents stunned as the building is considered one of the oldest architectural heritages in California.
United States historical heritage
In fact, the church founded by Junípero Serra in 1771 and moved to another nearby location in 1775 due to frequent flooding, is part of the United States National Register of Historic Places and is one of the Historical Landmarks recognized by the state of California.
"This is a incredibly important historical building, not only for the community but also for the region"A spokesman for the San Gabriel City Council, Jonathan Fu, told the media.
Several historians have pointed out this place as the birth of the huge city of Los Angeles, the second largest metropolitan area in the United States.
Popularly known as San Gabriel de los Temblores, it was the fourth mission founded by the Franciscans in their expansion through present-day California and several of its members ("settlers") traveled about 20 kilometers to found the original Los Angeles settlement.
To this day and after surviving several earthquakes, he continues to be active as a prominent temple in the east of the metropolis, a zone mostly latin.
"People love the mission and many of these families have connections that go back generations," the diocese's auxiliary bishop, David G. O'Connell, told the faithful and the media during a mass organized Sunday morning in the vicinity of the temple.
For his part, the Archbishop of Los Angeles, José H. Gómez, who presides over the US Episcopal Conference, stated in a writing that “the destruction is extensive, the roof has been destroyed and much of the old church has been ruined"
The works of art were saved by the reform
Fortunately, the reforms that were being carried out to renovate the building for its 250th anniversary forced remove various works from within.
According to the diocese, the vast majority of statues and paintings were not inside the temple during the fire and both the altar and other wooden figures were also intact.
Also, the flames did not affect a copper baptismal font that was decorated with silver pieces delivered by the Spanish king Carlos III at the end of the 18th century, the Los Angeles Times newspaper detailed.
The statue of Junípero Serra, vandalism in other locations, and why they decided to remove it a few weeks ago, was not destroyed either..
However, the fire did day after $ 200,000 renovations completed and that they had served to paint the walls and benches, which are over 110 years old.
An emblem with a controversial side
It is not the first time that, if the intention of the fire was confirmed, this place appears vandalized, since in 2017 the Serra statue was painted red like other figures in the country.
Despite their patrimonial importance, groups and activists have denounced in recent years, and within the historical revisionism that the United States lives, that these settlements destroyed the way of life of the native inhabitants of the place, forced to convert to Catholicism.
