SNOHOMISH — Arsons that destroyed two new homes, and attempts at several others this week, were the work of the environmental extremist group the Earth Liberation Front, a statement released by the group claims.
The ELF "press office" has not received direct communication from the arsonists, but "a note found at the site of one the fires was signed ‘ELF’ and reportedly contained statements condemning suburban developments," the statement reads.
"In absence of other information, this note does indicate a claim of responsibility for the fires and fire attempts by ELF activists," according to the e-mail sent to the media.
FBI agents have been investigating the possibility of ELF involvement since the note was found Tuesday at the Cedars Crossing development, about 13 miles from Lobo Ridge, the site of the arsons, FBI spokesman Ray Lauer said Friday.
"It’s a rambling letter, and ELF indirectly took responsibility for the fires," he said. "It doesn’t say specifically, but it’s tough to read it and think it wasn’t done for a domestic terrorist cause."
Investigators have not released the exact contents of the note. A witness said it contained an anti-development message.
"If it says ELF, and it is within the guidelines of what they stand for, it’s ELF," said Gary Perlstein, a professor of criminal justice at Portland State University in Oregon who has studied and written extensively about the elusive extremist group.
ELF activists have claimed responsibility for dozens of incidents across the country, including torching new developments in California and Michigan last year.
"It is clear from past statements and recent actions of the ELF that urban sprawl has become a central issue in the struggle to protect the Earth," the statement reads.
Acting in secrecy, the Earth Liberation Front is an international group that uses violent means to protest actions members deem harmful to the environment. There doesn’t appear to be a leader, and activists typically work in three- to five-person autonomous cells, Perlstein said.
The loose structure makes it difficult — but not impossible — for authorities to catch those affiliated with the group, Lauer said.
ELF activists generally are men between the ages of 18 and 26.
"There’s a very good chance they’re from the area. Where’s the closest university? I’d make a bet whoever did it is sitting in some class right now," Perlstein said.
Since there wasn’t a larger banner or message, it is likely it was the work of one or two people, he said.
"They want authorities to know. They want the publicity," Perlstein said. Snohomish County likely was targeted because its urban boundaries are expanding, he said.
The county has been one of the state’s fastest growing in the past decade. About 20 percent of future growth is expected to occur in rural areas outside the county’s 20 cities.
The debate about growth — how much is needed and where it should go — has been underscored by controversial County Council decisions in recent years.
The council has been criticized, and applauded, for its decisions to allow commercial zoning on lands designated for farming along I-5. A state growth board has shot down several of those high-profile decisions.
Also controversial has been the council’s move to allow fully contained communities in rural areas. Such communities are built-from-scratch towns that are usually developed on former timberlands far outside cities or their urban growth areas.
For all of the recent headlines about impending growth in rural areas, construction of new homes in those areas has remained relatively constant since 1990. The county issued 2,000 to 2,500 building permits each year for single-family homes between 1990 and 2002, according to the county’s planning department.
Even so, that’s higher than the number of single-family homes that have been permitted in cities since 1990.
"Snohomish County is expanding. They consider that sprawl," Perlstein said.
The two homes that were torched were in the new Lobo Ridge development east of Snohomish. Arson attempts also were made at two other homes there.
The note was found with six plastic bottles of gasoline and makeshift fuses at Cedars Crossing several hours later. The note was scrawled on the back of a Herald newspaper story about old-growth timber. "Clearly, they were trying to drive home their point," Lauer said.
Three arson attempts were made Wednesday at the Storm Lake Heights development, also east of Snohomish. Investigators said similar materials were found at all three locations, but will not say if there is a direct connection.
The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed Friday that the fires were arsons, causing about $1 million in damage.
ELF activists commonly use arson to protest, Perlstein said. When the group first cropped up in the United States in 1996, most actions were aimed at logging and were contained to forested areas.
"They’ve been spreading into other areas and other activities," Perlstein said, adding that ELF took responsibility for a fire that destroyed the Center for Urban Horticulture at the University of Washington in 2001.
Storm Lake Heights developer Peter Lance said he doesn’t understand why ELF targeted that neighborhood. The 61-lot development aims to preserve the rural character and protect sensitive areas by including 60 acres of open space.
"This is the wrong one to bomb," Lance said. "If you wanted to make a point, you’d bomb some development where the property is used 100 percent and there’s hardly a tree left standing."
Herald writers Katherine Schiffner, Brian Kelly and Lukas Velush contributed to this report. Reporter Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463 or hefley@heraldnet.com.
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