Prosecutors say Bellingham woman drunk when she set house on fire

Published 12:29 pm Sunday, May 10, 2015

BELLINGHAM — Whatcom County prosecutors say a 38-year-old woman was drunk when she allegedly lit her house on fire while her 12-year-old daughter was sleeping inside.

Casey Ann Evans was charged last week with first-degree arson after a fire investigator caught her lighting her house on fire during a stakeout early Wednesday. She is being held on $200,000 bail at Whatcom County Jail.

The Bellingham Herald said that charging documents show Evans blew nearly three times the legal limit for driving when given an alcohol-breath test.

The sheriff’s office and Whatcom County Fire Marshal’s Office had been investigating a series of small fires near Evans’ home. Officials said Evans was the one who called authorities about these fires. Evans denied setting the fires.

A deputy prosecutor said she’s not being charged with attempted murder because he doesn’t believe she intended to hurt her child.