MARYSVILLE — Police have identified three suspects after a series of recent fires on the Pinewood Elementary campus.
The early morning fires were set between Saturday and Wednesday, said Christie Veley, a spokeswoman for the Marysville Fire District.
The suspects are two juveniles and an 18-year-old man, Marysville police reported Wednesday night.
Investigators had been working with Marysville School District staff since Monday morning to identify the suspects. They were caught on security cameras, police Cmdr. Mark Thomas said.
The investigation has turned up several more persons of interest. As of Wednesday night police said they expected charges will be filed against the three suspects.
A boy was booked into the Denney Juvenile Justice Center for investigation of two counts of first-degree reckless burning, a class C felony.
Police plan to refer reckless burning allegations against a second boy to the Snohomish County juvenile prosecutors.
A Marysville man could face arson charges, police said. Those allegations also will be referred to prosecutors.
“This is still an active investigation, both into the fires themselves and the interviews of potential witnesses,” Thomas said.
Just after 5:30 a.m. Saturday, Marysville firefighters extinguished a small fire in a green recycling bin near the gym area of the school at 5115 84th St NE.
Around 2:15 a.m. Monday, firefighters were called to another fire inside a garbage bin outside the school. They also extinguished a smoldering fire in a nearby portable restroom.
Around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, there was another fire in the same garbage bin.
No injuries were reported in any of the incidents. There was no structural damage to the buildings, school officials said.
“We urge all residents to report any suspicious activities on school campuses or elsewhere, especially in the late evening or early morning hours,” the fire district said in a news release. “If you see a fire, call 911 immediately.”
Anyone who may have any information regarding the Pinewood fires is asked to call Marysville Police detectives at 360-363-8350.
Greg Dennis, the district’s facilities and security supervisor, said the school district and police work closely together. That’s particularly helpful given the district covers 16 campuses that include more than 300 acres.
The recent spree of fires isn’t the only instance of the campus being targeted by vandals this school year.
Dozens of bullet holes riddled windows of Pinewood Elementary before students returned from winter break.
Police arrested two men, a 19-year-old from Marysville and a 18-year-old from Tulalip. They were booked into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of first-degree malicious mischief.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446; stevick@heraldnet.com.
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