FREELAND – A series of suspicious fires seems to be intensifying on south Whidbey Island, leaving police to wonder if the blazes are the work of a serial arsonist.
Island County sheriff’s deputies are warning neighbors to be on the lookout for any suspicious activity late at night or early in the morning.
That’s when at least seven fires over the past four weeks have broken out, Undersheriff Kelly Mauck said.
Investigators believe the fires are connected and may have been set by the same person or people.
“I don’t think we’ve seen a series of fires like this for quite some time,” Mauck said. “It’s not typical out here. It is typical for a serial arsonist, though.”
The fires began popping up about a month ago. First it was a trash can and portable toilet at a park.
An abandoned house then was leveled by fire, and on Friday a storage shed was ignited.
The pattern concerns police.
“No one has been hurt, but it does appear that there is some escalation in the behavior,” Mauck said.
Someone could have been in that house or shed, he added.
No suspects have been identified.
Investigators hope neighbors will call 911 if they see anything unusual or have additional information about the fires.
They also are asking people to clean up around their property to protect themselves from becoming a victim.
“We need citizens to be vigilant,” Mauck said. “We’re asking them to be our eyes and ears out there.”
Reporter Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463 or hefley@heraldnet.com.
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