Arson Is Suspected in Northwest

Arson is suspected in about 20 wildfires, most of them started in the last two weeks, east of Mt. Rainier, federal authorities said Friday.

“It’s just a matter of time. If it continues, we’ll have a major disaster,” said Sonny O’Neal, supervisor for the Okanagon and Wenatchee national forests.

The largest of the wildfires, the 2,286-acre Oak Creek II fire, burned within a mile of Tieton Middle School, 15 miles west of Yakima, before it was contained Aug. 16. There were no injuries or structures damaged in any of the blazes.

All of the fires have been in Yakima and Kittitas counties, and most of them have been in drainages along Washington 410, the east-west route across Chinook Pass, and U.S. 12, the east-west route across White Pass.

The suspicious fires probably date back about a month, but most have occurred in the last two weeks, said Paul Hart, a spokesman for the two national forests in central Washington.

As many as 12 fires appear to have been set in a single day, often in areas where people would not typically go, said Gary Berndt of the state Department of Natural Resources.

Most have been set in the late evening or early morning, possibly with a cigarette lighter, Berndt and O’Neal said.

Two fires were started Friday. Both were snuffed out quickly, burning less than an acre, as has been the case with most of the other blazes.

Arson is suspected in some of the largest fires in the West this year. A Forest Service employee was charged with arson in the biggest wildfire in Colorado history. She has been fired.

In New Mexico, a federal Bureau of Indian Affairs forestry technician has been indicted in six fires started on or near the Mescalero Apache Reservation.

In Arizona, a contract firefighter is accused of starting a fire in dry grass on the Fort Apache Reservation that merged with another blaze to become the largest wildfire in the state’s history.

And in California, a woman is accused of starting a fire in Sequoia National Forest.

All four deny guilt.

Investigators believe one or possibly two people may be responsible for the central Washington fires, and the possibility that it could be a firefighter has not been ruled out, O’Neal said.

A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information leading to arrest and conviction in the fires, and a tip line has been established: 800-55ARSON.