# Saint-Simon Catholic Church arson

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/saint-simon-catholic-church-arson
> Updated: 2026-08-30T19:30:00.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 3.

A historic wooden Catholic church in Saint-Simon, New Brunswick, was destroyed by fire on Monday, August 24, 2026. The structure, noted as the largest wooden church in the province, was reported to be on fire around 3:30 a.m. Firefighters from the Caraquet Department reported that the building became impossible to save once the flames reached the roof structure.

Investigations by the RCMP and the Office of the Fire Marshal determined the fire was “intentionally set” while the building was unoccupied, after motion detectors were triggered inside. 

A 68-year-old local resident, Gilles Mallet, has been taken into police custody and charged with arson. The RCMP confirmed that Mallet appeared in provincial court on Monday regarding the incident.

Local officials and religious leaders described the loss of the 1910s-era structure as a major cultural and community disaster. While some online commentary attempted to link the incident to immigrants, local residents dismissed these claims, stating the local immigrant population is friendly and that no such accusations exist within the community.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-30: New Brunswick man arrested for arson of historic Saint-Simon Church

Gilles Mallet, 68, has been charged with arson after a fire destroyed the historic Saint-Simon Church in New Brunswick, Canada.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/new-brunswick-man-arrested-for-arson-of-historic-saint-simon-church

### 2026-08-27: Saint-Simon Church destroyed by suspected arson in Canada

Police have arrested a 68-year-old man suspected of arson after the historic Saint-Simon Catholic Church in New Brunswick, Canada, was completely destroyed by an intentional fire.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/saint-simon-church-destroyed-by-suspected-arson-in-canada

### 2026-08-24: Saint-Simon Catholic Church arson charge in New Brunswick

A 68-year-old man faces arson charges after a fire destroyed the historic Saint-Simon Catholic Church in New Brunswick, an event described as a major disaster for the local community.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/saint-simon-catholic-church-arson-charge-in-new-brunswick

---
Cite as: Saint-Simon Catholic Church arson. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/saint-simon-catholic-church-arson