A man has been arrested after a suspicious fire broke out at a church in Melbourne’s inner west overnight, prompting an emergency response and raising concerns about the safety of religious institutions in Victoria.
Emergency services were called to the Church of Christ in Maidstone, about eight kilometres west of Melbourne’s CBD, shortly after 1am on Sunday, 8 February 2026, following reports that the building was on fire. Firefighters arrived to find flames at the front of the church and spreading into the roof structure, forcing crews to act quickly to contain the blaze.
Fire Rescue Victoria worked to prevent the fire from engulfing the entire building, successfully bringing the situation under control before major structural damage occurred. Authorities confirmed that no one was inside the church at the time, and no injuries were reported.
Victoria Police have since confirmed the blaze is being treated as suspicious, with investigators arresting a 36-year-old man from nearby Footscray close to the scene. The man is currently in custody and is being questioned by detectives as part of an ongoing investigation into the cause of the fire.
Police said the arrest was made after officers responded rapidly to the incident and located a suspect in the vicinity of the church. However, authorities have not yet disclosed whether charges have been laid, and investigations remain active.
The incident has been referred to specialist investigators, including fire scene examiners, who are working to determine whether the blaze was deliberately lit and, if so, the motive behind the suspected arson.
Suspicious fires targeting community buildings, including places of worship, are treated as serious offences under Victorian law, with arson carrying severe penalties if proven in court. Investigators will examine forensic evidence from the scene, including burn patterns, accelerants and CCTV footage, to establish how the fire started.
The Maidstone church serves as an important place of worship for its local congregation, and the fire has caused concern among community members about the vulnerability of religious institutions.
The incident comes amid heightened national sensitivity around attacks on community and religious sites, following several vandalism and arson incidents involving places of worship across Australia in recent years. Law enforcement agencies have repeatedly warned that attacks targeting religious buildings can have wider social impacts beyond physical damage, affecting community cohesion and public safety.
Victoria Police have urged anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the area or who has dashcam or CCTV footage from around the time of the incident to come forward.
“Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers,” police said in a statement.
Authorities are continuing to interview the arrested man and assess evidence as part of the investigation. It remains unclear whether the church was specifically targeted or whether the fire was an isolated criminal act.
The investigation is ongoing. The police have not ruled out laying charges pending the outcome of further inquiries.
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