UPDATE: Another arson – recycling-bin fire in Morgan Junction

(WSB photos)
3:12 AM: A recycling-bin fire wouldn’t usually draw an immediate Seattle Police response – but the recycling-bin fire just after 2:30 am alongside a house on SW Morgan, just west of 40th SW, happened within a mile of the unsolved recent arsons.

The fire marshal has just arrived to investigate, and police we talked to on the scene emphasized it was too soon to declare this related, but they’re taking no chances – as we learned at last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, three small fires, at least one in a trash container, are also being scrutinized in the ongoing investigation – those date back as far as October 12th, before the Sylvan Ridge car arsons last Sunday and the High Point office building arson on Monday.

There’s heavy fog in Morgan and Gatewood right now, complicating things for officers looking around the area (a searchlight was shone on our car as we headed away eastbound). We’ll update when there’s more information.

8:07 AM: The now-too-familiar sign is up on the charred fence by the burned bin – ARSON, with the hotline to call if you have any information for investigators – 800-55-ARSON. Or, call 911. (Photo added.)

MetPatrick October 21, 2015 (3:50 am)

CATCH THIS POS NOW! Putting an entire area on edge b/c some sick ^%@$@(&^% is “bored” or has illicit intentions is something I and my neighbors will not tolerate.

Putting innocent lives in danger is unthinkable.

This has to stop.

Brenda October 21, 2015 (6:11 am)

Enough already.
FREAK!

Smitty October 21, 2015 (6:32 am)

This person in crisis is crying out for help.

I hope we find – and help – them soon.

Alki resident October 21, 2015 (6:54 am)

This is becoming unnerving. The fires are all within the high point vicinity. This guy WILL get caught, he won’t stop though until he does. If your dog barks at night, get up and take a look .He’s telling you something. I hope this isn’t a copy cat either.

Heidi A October 21, 2015 (7:05 am)

I was looking for my lost cat on Craigslist when I came across a post saying two cars were lit on fire in driveways in Tacoma and someone posted a pic of tge getaway car. Has there been any mention of working with other counties?

WSB October 21, 2015 (7:26 am)

Yes, Capt. Davis mentioned last night that they are communicating with other jurisdictions. We briefly discussed the fact a woman had been arrested last month for allegedly setting several fires in White Center and vicinity, including one on the city side of Roxbury – we covered the case on our White Center site. She was charged and I just checked – she’s still in jail.

Mike October 21, 2015 (7:38 am)

Well I for one am glad that SPD brushed off the first arson.

HelperMonkey October 21, 2015 (8:16 am)

what about the arsonist in the White Center area recently? Is she still in jail? http://whitecenternow.com/2015/09/15/followup-30000-bail-set-for-arson-suspect/

WSB October 21, 2015 (8:18 am)

That’s who I mentioned two comments above, including that she is still in jail.

T Rex October 21, 2015 (8:18 am)

Crying out for help? So if this arsonist is successful and burns someone ‘s home down and God forbid someone dies, is that person still crying out for help? Nope, that person would view himself as a hero. He/she is no different that a serial killer, they do it for the THRILL. They are not crying out for anything, they are seriously mentally ill. And need to go away.

HelperMonkey October 21, 2015 (8:28 am)

oh, thanks WSB! Totally missed that comment. While I am glad that particular arsonist is still in jail I wish there was an easy answer here on who is behind this. Scary.

Lisa Taylor Whitley October 21, 2015 (10:41 am)

Thanks for the excellent reporting WSB!

jen October 21, 2015 (10:44 am)

“mentally ill and need to go away”…nice. I hope they catch this person and give them the help they need.

clulessinws October 21, 2015 (11:31 am)

Amen Smitty.

LyndaB October 21, 2015 (1:34 pm)

These criminals always go back to see the scene of their crimes. Keep an eye out!

T Rex October 21, 2015 (1:38 pm)

I should have justified that statement, go away to get help.

Brian October 21, 2015 (2:28 pm)

@T Rex: Thanks for condensing the massive misunderstanding of the mental health crisis gripping our country so succinctly.
.
“That guy is all messed up? Maybe he should just go somewhere and get help or something? Preferably somewhere else? I don’t see why this is so difficult!”

Alan October 21, 2015 (2:29 pm)

SPD is now offering a $10,000 reward for you assisting this person in getting help.
http://spdblotter.seattle.gov/2015/10/19/police-investigating-west-seattle-arson-fires/

WSB October 21, 2015 (3:05 pm)

The reward’s already on the posters we’ve shown. But we’re currently writing up a major update with additional new info – should be done in 15, 20 minutes.

Alan October 21, 2015 (3:11 pm)

I didn’t notice the $10,000 on the arson sign until after I posted my comment. Typical for me. I don’t think it hurts to call it out for others that may have the same reading challenges that I have.

Lauren October 21, 2015 (4:08 pm)

Smitty, I think conflating this horrible arson with the recent “person in crisis” situations in order to muddily make your political point is pretty lame. And not at all compassionate for the people who were in real crisis from depression.

Gatewoodian October 21, 2015 (9:15 pm)

That really looks like a Yard Waste bin (not a recycling bin)

WSB October 21, 2015 (9:29 pm)

Please note in the photo we took shortly after the fire, the bottles and cans. I don’t know what it looked like pre-fire but that’s what it was being used as, recycling. You might recall that recycling bins were green before the city handed out the blue ones. – TR

sam-c October 22, 2015 (10:09 am)

oddly enough, our neighbors (not the area of the fires, though) still have a green recycling bin, even though most of the other people on the street have blue ones. I don’t know why they weren’t sent a new one, maybe they keep theirs in really good condition or something ?!?!

Sorry, comment time is over.