ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- Gov. Sarah Palin's home church has been badly damaged in a suspicious fire.

Larry Kroon, pastor of the Wasilla Bible Church, estimates damages at more than $1 million to the church.

Kroon declined to say if the blaze was politically based or directed at Palin, the failed Republican vice presidential candidate.

Kroon says the fire broke out Friday night while a small group of women were working on crafts. They were alerted to the blaze by a fire alarm.

Kroon says he was called and by the time he got to the church, smoke was pouring out of the building. Sprinklers kept the fire from spreading beyond offices and classrooms.

Authorities are not immediately commenting, but Kroon says he's been told the fire is being investigated as a crime.