Suspected Fall City arsonist in custody

Published 2:44 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

Police arrested a man in his mid-30s on Monday night in

connection with an early morning house fire in Fall City, said Craig Muller, an

investigator with the King County Fire Investigation Unit. Muller expected

to turn the case over to the King County Prosecutor’s Office by

Wednesday, after the Valley Record went to press. The man will probably be

charged with second-degree arson. Officials would not release any further

information about the suspect.

According to Fall City fire chief Chris Connor, a passerby

spotted flames coming from the basement of the home in the 3010 block of

309th Avenue Southeast. When crews arrived, the fire had already spread to

the first floor of the two-story home. Firefighters were able to get the

blaze under control within 10 to 15 minutes, Connor said. Crews from

Eastside Fire & Rescue assisted with the effort.

However, two blackened areas near the southeast and northeast

corners of the home signified that there was probably foul play involved

in the fire.

“It looked pretty suspicious to us and as it turns out, it was

suspicious,” Connor said, adding that an accelerant was used in the

arson. “Usually a fire starts from one place.”

“There are some accidental causes for multiple origins, but

usually, it’s that someone tried to set it in more than one place,” he added.

The vacant home was unoccupied at the time of the fire. Connor

said that there was a person who had permission to stay temporarily at

the home, but the visitor was not in the building when it caught on fire.

Muller said the fire caused an estimated $25,000 in damage.