Serial arsonist believed responsible for 19 fires in a week

Fire officials believe a serial arsonist is responsible for setting 19 fires in the last week in the area south of Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake. The first and largest fire set was the eight acre Saltese Lake Fire on Sept. 18. A joint task force has been formed with representatives from Spokane County Fire District 8, the Spokane Valley Fire Department, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, the Liberty Lake Police Department and the Department of Natural Resources. Seventeen of the fires were set in District 8 while the other two were in the area served by Spokane Valley Fire, though Spokane Valley Fire has also been assisting with the ones located in District 8. Investigators have noticed a pattern, said Fire District 8 Fire Chief Tony Nielsen. There have been at least two fires every day in the afternoon and evening. Almost all of them have been set right next to a road in semi-rural areas in the vicinity of homes or other structures. “Today we’re asking for the public’s help,” said Nielsen. Investigators are asking people to call Crime Check at 456-2233 if they see any suspicious people or vehicles. Anyone with security cameras in the areas were fires have been reported are asked to check recorded footage for anything suspicious. Fire officials have learned of three fires that were put out by passers by and not initially reported to the fire district. Anyone with information on other previously unreported fires is asked to report them. Recent cooler weather has helped keep all the fires except the Saltese Lake Fire under an acre. “If it wasn’t for quick responses from DNR and other agencies we could have lost some homes,” Nielsen said of the Saltese Lake Fire. “We are concerned that somebody will be injured, either a member of the public or a firefighter, or that someone will lose a home.” Nielsen said he was the first one on the scene of a brush fire near the railroad tracks in the area of Dishman-Mica Road and Vicari on Wednesday. “I was driving down Highway 27 and saw smoke,” he said. Nielsen he put a yellow fire resistant shirt on over his uniform, grabbed a shovel out of the back of his truck, hiked up the hill and went to work. “The guys came over with the hoses later and said ‘What are you doing here?’ ” he said. Nielsen said he is concerned that on some days his crews are all working on the first suspicious brush fire of the day when the second is reported. “It’s almost like they know we have limited resources,” he said. “We are stretched thin.”