Police have identified a 38-year-old man they believe is responsible for starting the Gascoigne Lumber fire and a series of other fires around Ballard, Fremont and Queen Anne.
Detectives believe the man, who is already booked into Whatcom County Jail for an unrelated case, set five fires at businesses between Oct. 28 and Nov. 28 last year.
The fires include an office complex in the 200 block of Etruria St on Oct 28, the Elks lodge at 3014 3rd Ave NW on Nov. 8, the Gascoigne lumber yard on Nov. 10, a gymnasium on the 1400 block of NW 52nd St on Nov. 19, and an alley fire behind the Smoke Shop on Nov. 28.
Police say the fires caused more than four and half million dollars in damage.
The Washington State Crime Lab analyzed evidence from one of the crime and on Feb. 6, were able to match the DNA to the suspect. SPD is working with King County Prosecuting Attorney’s office to bring the arson charges against the man.