UPDATE: Fire in restroom/storage building at Riverview Playfield

5:14 AM: Thanks for the tips and photo from the overnight fire callout in Riverview. Firefighters are reported to have extinguished a fire in the women’s restroom at Riverview Playfield in the 7300 block of 12th SW, first reported after 2 am. We’ll be following up with SFD and Parks later this morning.

8:48 AM: No one from Parks was around when we went to the scene to follow up a short time ago, but our photo, above, shows some of the damage, and that this building includes storage; the entire building is taped off.

Alan June 18, 2016 (10:03 am)

On Saturday, May 7th, the portapotties in the adjoining greenbelt were torched. Those were only about a six block walk away, through the Pee Wee fields, from this site. Other than toilet paper, there was nothing flammable at either site. At first, I was hoping that the storage locker might have been the source of this fire, but the walls in there look white and the lawnmower appears to be untouched.

Alan June 18, 2016 (12:02 pm)

We just walked by. It looks even worse in person. With the roof damage throughout the building, I would guess that it will take a while before that building is re-opened.

There was a Parks van parked in front.

Kay K June 18, 2016 (1:33 pm)

Presumably an arson. What a waste of city funds that could be used for so many other needed projects. Haven’t there been some other little garage fires around the area too lately?

Alan June 18, 2016 (2:11 pm)

On the 8th there was an arson fire set in a garage down in Westwood. That was about two miles away.

https://westseattleblog.com/2016/06/fire-call-in-8100-block-30th-sw/

Then there was a fire in Highpoint on the 5th. That was ruled accidental though I had to wonder if they didn’t reconsider with the fire three days later in walking distance. This would also be about two miles away.

https://westseattleblog.com/2016/06/followup-what-sparked-sunday-morning-fire/

https://westseattleblog.com/2016/06/fire-near-35th-and-myrtle/
- WSB June 18, 2016 (2:51 pm)
  
  We’re still trying to find out more about today’s incident … have talked to an SFD battalion chief here at the Morgan festival but she didn’t start her shift until a few hours later, right before the Olson Place fire (which she verified was accidental), so she doesn’t have any info, and now we’re checking in with the police who are here – they don’t know either.
  - Alan June 18, 2016 (3:34 pm)
    
    Thanks for the follow-up, WSB. Both the torching of the portapotties and of the restroom appear to have involved some sort of liquid fuel, based on the high temperatures. Add in that they were within a short walk of each other, connected by trails, certainly makes it seem like they are related.

Kay K June 18, 2016 (3:51 pm)

Too bad, it could all have been prevented by the Park Dept. simply locking the doors in the evening. The park is “closed” at night and the gates are often locked. Don’t know why they don’t close the bathrooms as well.

MFlash June 18, 2016 (5:33 pm)

I agree Kay K, We are trying hard to keep this neighborhood a positive, upbeat place to live in and now THIS!!!!

Questions for the Parks Dept:

What will the cost be to repair this mess?
When will the repairs be completed? Will we have to walk by this for months? Years?

It just brings us all down.

Note to the arsonist: Burn down a “zombie” vacant house will you????

Craig June 18, 2016 (8:44 pm)

I think it’s time for more police presence around the park. There are often one or two cars parked in the area late night. I’ve only been prompted to call the police one and a half times in the last year due to high music volumes but I noticed yesterday that there were tire marks(“doughnuts”) in the grass on the baseball fields. Seems to me the area would benefit from occasional police drive-throughs and maybe moving people out of the area after hours. Also, Parks, aside from locking the gates, needs to make it so that motor vehicles can’t access the park area- close the gaps. Bummer

Alan June 20, 2016 (2:21 pm)

WSB – Is there any chance that you were able to get an update on this from Lt. Stangl, while checking on the Arbor Heights fire? With two fires in two months within Riverview that appear to have been arson, using flammable liquid, it would be nice to know that they (SFD and SPD) were at least aware.

I may be more worried than most as this person seems to have a vendetta against public toilets and I have one near my house, connected to my property by tree canopy.

WSB June 20, 2016 (2:24 pm)

She had collected some info just before she got called to the AH fire. She promised me she’d get me the Riverview followup info once she’s back in the office – I’m waiting another hour before calling yet again; she might have been diverted to something else. (She is filling in as PIO, as the position is open again.) I’ve already obtained a bit of followup info from Parks, though it’s nothing earthshaking, and not related to the investigation, so whenever I get the SFD info, I’ll be publishing a followup – TR