Arson arrest surprise to many

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE – A longtime Tukwila firefighter is suspected of setting a fire outside his Mountlake Terrace house while his wife and children were inside.

Philip Lyons, 48, was arrested Thursday for investigation of first-degree attempted arson. He made an appearance Friday in Everett District Court, where bail was set at $10,000.

According to court documents, Lyons allegedly set fire to a cardboard box under a window on Aug. 10. His wife noticed a glow about 11:30 p.m., and Lyons put the small fire out with a garden house, according to court records.

Police found the charred remains of a napkin stuffed into the exposed framing of the house, along with a small fire starter, a device used to ignite fireplaces. The fire did not damage the house.

A police dog tracked a scent from the fire to the front door, according to court documents. Police also learned that several fire starters had been purchased and recorded on Lyons’ Safeway card.

“We really worked hard to make sure we weren’t going in the wrong direction,” Police Chief Scott Smith said. “We couldn’t get away from the fact that the evidence kept coming back to him.”

Smith would not comment about a motive for the attempted arson, saying the case continues to be under investigation.

No charges have been filed against Lyons, a lieutenant and a 25-year veteran of the Tukwila Fire Department.

At one point, Lyons blamed the fire on an arsonist who had started several fires in north Seattle, according to court documents.

Detectives and an arson investigator with the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives do not think the fire is related to any other arsons in the area, Smith said.

Tukwila Fire Chief Nick Olivas said Lyons has been placed on administrative leave pending resolution of the matter. He was well respected and known as a good family man, Olivas said.

“The best way to describe how we responded to this was we’re all surprised,” Olivas said. “Nobody would have suspected it.”

Reporter Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463 or hefley@heraldnet.com.

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