Cause still unknown from Smokey Point fire earlier this week

ARLINGTON - Authorities haven't been able to determine the cause of a fire that caused more than $1 million damage to the Smokey Point Plaza early Monday morning.

“The cause of this fire will officially be classified as undetermined pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation and the development of additional information and/or evidence,” said Kelvin Crenshaw, special agent in charge for the Seattle office of the federal office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Kristin Banfield, a city of Arlington spokesman, said an undetermined designation means investigators can't eliminate all the causes to rule a fire as accidental or intentional.

The fire destroyed a pawn shop and a restaurant and damaged a music store and a loan business at the strip mall in the in the 3400 block of 172nd Street NE,

“It started in the pawn shop,” Banfield said. “We just can't figure out how. “

The investigation will continue between Arlington Police Department and ATF. Anyone with information relating to the cause of the fire is encouraged to call the Arlington Police Department at 360-403-3400.