Police Hit Dead End In Church Arson Case

Investigators have reached a dead end in trying to catch the person responsible for three church arsons last year in the suburbs east of Seattle.

“There were no more leads available,” said Jon Hartley, acting Kirkland police chief.

In a recent report to the City Council, Kirkland Fire Chief Tom Fieldstead said the three fires show the need for built-in sprinkler systems in most new buildings covering more than 4,000 square feet.

Sprinklers prevented major damage at Rose Hill Presbyterian Church in Kirkland and Alliance Church in Woodinville, he noted.

By contrast, Cottage Lake Presbyterian in Woodinville had only a partial sprinkler system and was badly damaged.