Lawyer: Pangs Not Suspects In Fire

The owners of the Mary Pang’s Food Products warehouse are not suspects in the arson that destroyed their building and killed four firefighters last week, the Pangs’ attorney said.

“That’s what the police told me about Mary and Harry Pang, directly to my face … that Mary and Harry are not under any suspicion whatsoever,” said Seattle attorney John Henry Browne.

Browne said his law firm was hired by the Pangs to help with the insurance claim on the building and to handle police and media inquiries.

The Pangs were unaware that authorities had received information prior to the fire indicating that their building might be the target of an arson, Browne said.

Seattle Fire Chief Claude Harris said the building had been under surveillance because of threats made against it. According to The Seattle Times, a knowledgeable source said the surveillance had ended two days before the fire.

Officials confirmed Friday that the five-alarm blaze Jan. 5 was arson.