Gov. Sarah Palin’s home church was badly damaged by a suspicious fire that caused an estimated $1 million in damage. Investigators said it could be the work of an arsonist.

Firefighters were called to Wasilla Bible Church, about 40 miles north of Anchorage, at about 9:40 p.m. Friday. They battled for about eight hours to completely extinguish the blaze that began at the front door. Five women were in the church working on crafts, and possibly two children, but no one was injured in the fire.

Chief Steele said the blaze was being investigated as suspicious and as potential arson. He said there was no indication of any political motivation for the fire. The building is worth between $4 million and $5 million, and sustained an estimated $1 million in damage.

The incident led Ms. Palin to apologize if the fire was connected to “undeserved negative attention” the church received during her campaign as the Republican vice-presidential nominee. She was not at the church during the Friday night fire.

“Gov. Palin stopped by the church this morning, and she told an assistant pastor that she apologizes if the incident is in any way connected to the undeserved negative attention the church has received since she became a vice presidential candidate on Aug. 29. Whatever the motives of the arsonist, the governor has faith in the scriptural passage that what was intended for evil will in some way be used for good,” Palin’s office said in a statement.

The church is one of the biggest in the region with a typical Sunday service drawing up to 1,000 people.