Update: Fire at vacant house on Roxbury at 25th ruled arson

5:25 AM: A fire response on the county side is reportedly backing up traffic on eastbound Roxbury in the 24th-26th vicinity and affecting westbound to some degree as well. We are en route to check.

5:46 AM: Just back from the scene. A vacant home (photo above) caught fire on the south side of Roxbury, east of 26th. No one inside, no injuries, according to the North Highline Fire Department. No flames but still smoke, an hour or so after the first report. They don’t know yet what caused it, nor the full extent of the damage – we’ll check back later after it’s light. (P.S. If you’re hearing a helicopter – it’s TV, checking out the fire scene/traffic backup.)

7:17 AM UPDATE: Just back from re-checking the scene. Westbound Roxbury is now fully open; eastbound still is tied up at 25th with fire/sheriff’s vehicles. Investigators are checking the house:

We’ll check again on eastbound Roxbury after 8 am.

8:59 AM: Fully open again. Also, there’s now a sign on the house, including the word ARSON – we are checking with investigators.

11:43 AM: Sgt. Cindi West with the King County Sheriff’s Office confirms their investigators ruled it arson: “It does appear to be an intentionally set fire that started in the basement.As you probably saw from the sign on the house there is a reward for information leading to an arrest.”

Tim February 13, 2013 (6:02 am)

Hearing helicopters in the area. Sometimes I worry that means there’s a manhunt. Thank you for this report to help me know what’s going on!

Jen February 13, 2013 (6:13 am)

Agreed, good to know it’s the media and not a manhunt. Glad no one was hurt.

Donna February 13, 2013 (6:17 am)

Thank you. I, too, was concerned.

Trent February 13, 2013 (6:24 am)

I automatically assume manhunt when I hear/see helicopters, as well. Do we know for sure that the fire is what they’re looking at?

WSB February 13, 2013 (6:26 am)

Yes, we do. They dispatched it as we started reporting on the fire (sorry) and it’s been used extensively in traffic reports (with Tracy Taylor citing our info from the ground … we aren’t formal partners with KING but our two organizations are certainly friends). There is nothing else going on in the general area, fire OR police. – TR

Trent February 13, 2013 (6:32 am)

Right on. Thanks again, for being our RELIABLE eyes & ears! You guys are awesome!

Stephanie February 13, 2013 (7:46 am)

Ditto on being worried it was a man hunt. Thank you for the great reporting!!

Bobbi February 13, 2013 (10:59 am)

I drive by on my way to work (QFC) and saw the thick black smoke and flames that were coming out the back. I pulled over and ran to the neighbors house to try and wake them because the fire was real bad and I didn’t want anyone to get hurt