A Virginia fire marshal says an arsonist who set a church building on fire this week claims he did it because he was prevented from staying in the church’s shelter with others seeking to escape the freezing conditions. Deputy Fire Marshal Matthew Gearhart said the suspect’s name will not be released until pending charges are filed.

The fire was reported Thursday at the Market Street United Methodist Church.

The church posted on social media that everyone was safe following the fire.

Authorities in Virignia say the man was denied entry because of a history of disrupting shelters.