FOLLOWUP: 20th/Roxbury townhouse fire ruled arson

| Crime | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

(Saturday photo sent by Carol)

Two days after the afternoon fire that damaged an unfinished townhouse building in the 9400 block of 20th SW, just north of SW Roxbury, Seattle Fire says its investigators have determined that it was arson. SFD spokesperson Kristin Tinsley tells WSB this morning, “The fire was determined to have been intentionally set (incendiary).” That makes it a Seattle Police investigation. Tinsley says damage is estimated at $195,000. As we reported Saturday, a firefighter was injured (we’re checking back on their condition). If you have information, the SPD incident number is 2022-184155.

Graciano July 18, 2022 (10:24 am)

Have the Police ever caught the White Center Arsonist?

WSB July 18, 2022 (12:16 pm)

You mean the July fire last year? The King County Sheriff’s Office has never announced an arrest, and I’d expect that they would if they made one. This was not in White Center, but certainly not far away.
- momosmom July 18, 2022 (4:24 pm)
  
  If that’s not WC what neighborhood is it? Just curious because doesn’t the Holy Rosary Church/School have the welcome too/leaving White Center sign on their embankment by the School?
- momosmom July 18, 2022 (4:40 pm)
  
  Correction to my previous question******Holy Family not Holy Rosary
  - WSB July 18, 2022 (8:12 pm)
    
    And HF is actually in the city, due to a pocket where the city limit juts south. As for the signage, those were placed by the no-longer-active WC Chamber of Commerce. We can argue neighborhood lines until the cows come home – what’s White Center, what’s South Delridge, what’s White Center, what’s Top Hat, what’s Highland Park, what’s South Delridge, what’s Westwood, what’s Gatewood, what’s Fauntleroy, etc. etc. etc.

rpo July 18, 2022 (12:52 pm)

Sounds very familiar to the fire that destroyed 10 townhomes in North Admiral two years ago…right after the bridge closure happened.

WSB July 18, 2022 (1:31 pm)

That one was ruled of undetermined cause
https://westseattleblog.com/2020/04/followup-2-alarm-admiral-construction-site-fire-remains-a-mystery/
- rpo July 18, 2022 (2:13 pm)
  
  Yep, I know. It’s just highly suspicious when a property burns down at 3 AM the day after the units were listed for sale at the beginning of a pandemic and right after the bridge closed when most people would have expected real estate in WS to falter.
  - Rick July 18, 2022 (6:53 pm)
    
    At least they’re efficient and timely. And very lucky.

Westside Rob July 18, 2022 (1:39 pm)

Hey WSB, with this logic do you consider Walgreens not in White Center too?..

WSB July 18, 2022 (8:05 pm)

In the city = West Seattle. Unincorporated King County = White Center.

West Seattle Mad Sci Guy July 18, 2022 (1:48 pm)

Looking at the picture I’m surprised it is only $195,000 worth of damage!

ITotallyAgreeWithYou July 18, 2022 (7:11 pm)

I lived on that block for many years and was there when that fire happened. It was 6-7 under construction townhouses that were destroyed (2 buildings, one behind the other) and 2 or 3 neighboring townhouses that were heavily damaged. The last I spoke with an immediate neighbor who was directly affected by the fire, they had noticed propane heaters left on when construction was shut down due to the pandemic and tried to warn the contractor with no success because they too were closed. My understanding was that they had heard officially that that was the cause. I seriously doubt a contractor is going to throw in the towel by arson 1 1/2 weeks into a pandemic we thought was going to last a few weeks.

My 2 cents July 19, 2022 (2:02 pm)

I’d warn anyone that tries to purchase this unit if it isn’t torn down and rebuilt first. There is water and smoke damage throughout. Not to mention, firefighters are not really careful when they bash in windows, doors, walls, etc. Hopefully the builder has some integrity and just tears it down and starts over.

Sorry, comment time is over.