Militants seldom resort to flames

Environmental activism that mushrooms into eco-terrorism isn’t new in Snohomish County, what with mink releases, arson and tree spikings in the county’s recent history.

But if the burning down of just-built subdivisions was in the name of protecting the environment, it is thought to be a first.

Investigators said Wednesday that a series of fires and apparent attempted arsons at three subdivisions near Snohomish appear to have environmental activism overtones.

A letter left at one of the subdivisions indicates that the Earth Liberation Front may be involved. Acting in secrecy, ELF is a national group that uses violent means to protest actions its members deem harmful to the environment.

The group claims responsibility for dozens of incidents across the country, including at least one in Washington state.

On its Web site, the group takes credit for spiking trees in Randle.

Examples of other actions it takes credit for range from burning luxury homes in Michigan and California to sabotaging construction equipment in Texas.

Locally, the Animal Liberation Front, a group thought to be affiliated with ELF, took credit for releasing 10,000 mink from a farm in Sultan in August.

The group also claimed responsibility for burning a mink food-processing plant in Edmonds in 1991, causing an estimated $500,000 in damage.

Earth First! members allegedly spiked trees marked to be cut in the Darrington area in the mid-1980s, said Ron DeHart, a spokesman for Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

"It was a spotty kind of thing," said DeHart, who added that the debate over protecting spotted owl habitat was raging at the time. "It wasn’t a pattern, but it did happen."

As best as DeHart could recall, there were no arrests made and no one was injured.

For the most part, there hasn’t been much eco-terrorism activity in the county, said David Dilgard, a historian with the Everett Public Library.

Mainstream environmentalists say burning down new homes is not something they condone.

"I think violence is not the answer in any way, shape or form," said Sue Adams, a member of the Everett Shoreline Coalition and former spokeswoman for the Pilchuck Audubon Society. "This has to be somebody who is very angry. I just think this is somebody who is sick."

Adams said true environmental activism involves negotiating for the best environmental protections possible each time a new development is proposed, not attacking development after the fact.

Clearview resident Jane Miller said she doesn’t condone what the arsonists did, but said she’s certain it’s an outgrowth of how poorly Snohomish County is planning development in rural parts of the county.

To her, its clear that the fires were started by someone who is frustrated with how the county is allowing high-density developments to be built right up against rural communities.

Reporter Diana Hefley contributed to this report.

Reporter Lukas Velush: 425-339-3449 or lvelush@heraldnet.com.

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