BEAVER — Authorities suspect an arsonist set fire to a U.S. Highway 101 home on New Year’s morning that left the house intact.
“We have evidence that it was intentionally set,” Brian King, Clallam County Sheriff’s Office chief criminal deputy, said last week.
“We have people we suspect could have been involved,” he added.
“We hope to break this thing wide open very soon.
“It’s a day-to-day thing.”
Early morning fire
The fire at the 1,564-square-foot home at 201821 U.S. Highway 101 was reported to emergency dispatchers at 9:16 a.m. Jan. 1.
No one was home at the time of the fire, and no one was hurt.
Sheriff’s Office and Fire District 1 investigators determined the fire had multiple points of origin in a manner that indicated an accelerant such as gasoline was used, King said.
It could be three months before a final determination is made by the State Patrol crime lab.
Smoke filled the four-bedroom home, assessed by the county at $121,589, but the flames did not destroy it.
Emergency personnel from the Forks and Beaver fire departments snuffed it out.
“It’s not a total loss, but there is significant burn and smoke damage,” King said.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
