Bothell fire was arson, investigators say
Published 10:54 pm Thursday, January 15, 2009
Investigators said the fire that broke out Thursday morning at a vacant Bothell rental home was intentionally set, as was a December fire at the same property.
The blaze Thursday was started in the master bedroom and caused about $25,000 damage, said Gary Bontrager, an investigator with the Snohomish County Fire Marshal’s Office.
On Dec. 28, a fire also had been set on the outside of the home, Bontrager said.
The December fire caused about $50,000 damage and forced the owner to take the house off the rental market until repairs could be made, he said. The property was not rented at the time of the first blaze.
Bontrager said Thursday’s fire was “absolutely” arson.
“There’s no reason for this fire to occur,” he said. Power had been shut off at the building.
Snohomish County Fire District 7 crews extinguished both fires. There were no injuries.
Anyone with information is asked to call the fire marshal’s office at 425-388-3557.
