SEATTLE – More than 50 percent of Seattle’s firefighters responded to a 3-alarm fire in north Beacon Hill early Thursday morning. Investigators have determined the fire was intentionally set and damaged four buildings under construction with a total estimated loss of $5 million.

The Arson Alarm Foundation is offering an award from its annual $10,000 award fund to anyone with information that leads to the arrest or conviction of those responsible for setting this and other recent fires in the Beacon Hill and Rainier Avenue South vicinity.

According to the Seattle Fire Department’s Fireline Blog, a call to the Fire Alarm Center at 5:42 a.m. reported a fire at new construction site on Sturgus Avenue South in the Beacon Hill neighborhood. The fire heavily damaged four three-story buildings under construction. A residence near the fire as well as a condominium were evacuated. Thankfully, firefighters were able to protect the two adjacent structures to the construction site and no firefighters or civilians were hurt.

The Seattle Fire Department reports that at least ten set fires have occurred in the Rainier Avenue South and Beacon Hill vicinity in the last 30 days. During a recent news conference, Seattle Fire Chief Harold Scoggins urged the public to secure their homes and businesses and report any suspicious activity to 911 immediately.

Also, the Arson Alarm Foundation urges anyone who may have information about the Beacon Hill fire or other arsons in the area to call the Arson Alarm Hotline at 800-55-ARSON (800-552-7766) or submit a tip on the Arson Alarm Foundation’s website at www.arsonalarm.com Tipsters may remain anonymous.

NW Insurance Council, WSRB and Arson Alarm Foundation offer awards from its annual $10,000 award fund each year for Washington residents who provide tips to authorities that result in the arrest or conviction of arsonists. More than $100,000 has been awarded to Washington citizens over the past decade.

“Arsonists hurt all of us by destroying lives and property and by driving up insurance rates,” said Kenton Brine, NW Insurance Council president, “and we share community concerns that this could happen again unless those responsible are caught. People with information are encouraged to call the Arson Hotline with any information they have about these fires.”

Arson is a deadly and costly crime. In 2015, nearly 23,000 deliberately-set fires killed 205 people and destroyed $534 million in insured property including factories, residential buildings. 

Release date: August 22, 2020

Contact: Sandi Henke, Communications Director, NW Insurance Council, Phone: (800) 664-4942, Sandi.Henke@nwinsurance.org

For more information about arson, visit www.arsonalarm.org.

Arson Alarm Foundation is a nonprofit organization that seeks to reduce loss of life and property by increasing arson awareness.

NW Insurance Council is a nonprofit, public-education organization funded by member insurance companies in Oregon, Washington & Idaho.

WSRB provides accurate, unbiased, relevant and timely information and data about risk. WSRB has served the public and been a valued partner to the property insurance industry