Person of interest in Seattle arson spree detained near scene of blaze
SHORELINE, Wash. -- Police have detained a person of interest in the string of Greenwood arsons near the scene of a 3-alarm fire that destroyed a building early Friday in Shoreline.
Police spokeswoman Renee Witt said investigators are questioning the man, who was detained by Seattle's arson task force at a bus stop.
The fire in Shoreline started just before midnight in a vacant former furniture store at 16900 Aurora Avenue North.
The building was quickly engulfed in flames, and about 70 firefighters from Shoreline, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace and Seattle worked for hours to get the blaze under control.
No one was injured in the fire.
In Seattle's Greenwood Neighborhood, residents have been on edge after more than a dozen fires were set in recent weeks at area businesses.
Just Monday morning residents awoke to learn four more shops had fallen victim.
The worst was a fire in the neighborhood was on Oct. 23, when four restaurants were destroyed, causing $2 million damage.
On Tuesday, hundreds of Greenwood residents and business owners packed a community meeting to discuss the string of arsons with police and fire officials.
Shoreline Fire Department Spokeswoman Melanie Granfors said the Friday morning fire at the vacant store building started in an outbuilding and spread to the rest of the structure.
She said it was an older building without sprinklers or many fire walls, allowing the fire quickly spread.
No official cause for the fire has been determined.
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Videos and more coverage from shoreline.komonews.com and greenwoodphinney.komonews.com
Police spokeswoman Renee Witt said investigators are questioning the man, who was detained by Seattle's arson task force at a bus stop.
The fire in Shoreline started just before midnight in a vacant former furniture store at 16900 Aurora Avenue North.
The building was quickly engulfed in flames, and about 70 firefighters from Shoreline, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace and Seattle worked for hours to get the blaze under control.
No one was injured in the fire.
In Seattle's Greenwood Neighborhood, residents have been on edge after more than a dozen fires were set in recent weeks at area businesses.
Just Monday morning residents awoke to learn four more shops had fallen victim.
The worst was a fire in the neighborhood was on Oct. 23, when four restaurants were destroyed, causing $2 million damage.
On Tuesday, hundreds of Greenwood residents and business owners packed a community meeting to discuss the string of arsons with police and fire officials.
Shoreline Fire Department Spokeswoman Melanie Granfors said the Friday morning fire at the vacant store building started in an outbuilding and spread to the rest of the structure.
She said it was an older building without sprinklers or many fire walls, allowing the fire quickly spread.
No official cause for the fire has been determined.
---
Videos and more coverage from shoreline.komonews.com and greenwoodphinney.komonews.com