Recent Valley Resident Sought in Seattle Arson : Investigation: Martin Pang is suspected in conspiracy related to blaze at parents’ warehouse, which killed four firefighters.

A man who recently lived in the San Fernando Valley is being sought for conspiracy in the arson of a Seattle warehouse that killed four firefighters last month, authorities confirmed Friday.

A warrant has been issued by Seattle police seeking Martin S. Pang, 39, for interstate flight to avoid prosecution, according to state and local authorities who are familiar with the investigation.

The warrant, listed in the Los Angeles Police Department computer network, alerts officers that Pang is wanted on suspicion of arson and indicates that the fire caused the deaths of four Seattle firefighters, said Officer Lorie Taylor. Pang is the son of Harry and Mary Pang, whose food-processing plant and warehouse burned down in a Jan. 5 blaze that Seattle’s fire chief called “the most devastating tragedy that has ever hit the Seattle Fire Department.”

Although he declined to discuss specifics of the case, a spokesman for the Los Angeles-area section of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms said the agency was involved in the case, following the lead of Seattle authorities.

“We are lending assistance to the Seattle Police Department and the Seattle ATF,” said Los Angeles ATF spokesman John D’Angelo. “We are actively looking for Martin Pang in Los Angeles and following leads in this area.”

Jim Provencher, spokesman for the Seattle office of the ATF, would not confirm that a warrant has been issued for Pang’s arrest, saying the Seattle Police Department is the lead investigative agency on the case.

“Officially,” Provencher said, “Martin is a person of interest in this investigation. Certainly he has ties in the Los Angeles area and has resided there. As to his current status with regard to residence, we do not know.”

Authorities are investigating whether he conspired with others to set the blaze, which Provencher said has officially been classified as arson.

California Department of Motor Vehicle records show that Pang obtained a state identification card sometime between 1992 and 1993.

One source familiar with the investigation said Pang was believed to have lived in the Valley for several years until last year and that he still lives in the area or has been a frequent visitor. His last known address is believed to be Van Nuys.

Craig Tennis, owner of Residuals, a Studio City bar that Pang frequented, described the aspiring actor and martial-arts expert as “a gentleman, very well-behaved and a nice customer.”

He last saw Pang at the bar a few months ago, Tennis said, adding that Pang taught martial arts to others who frequented the bar, a hangout for TV writers and performers and others in show business.

Tennis also said that in recent days federal agents have been swarming into the area, looking for Pang. “We’ve had federal agents and U.S. marshals all over our butts this week,” Tennis said. “We’ve had them scaring our customers to death, pulling them over in their cars, and taking them in for questioning.”

Pang, according to Tennis, “wasn’t someone who volunteered stuff about himself at all” and never talked about his personal life.

Five other firefighters were injured in the blaze, which gutted the building. It was the worst loss of life for a city fire department in the United States in more than three years, according to the National Fire Protection Assn.

Pang’s California identification card describes him as 6 feet tall, 165 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.