AUBURN, Wash. – A four-alarm blaze that swept through an Auburn self-storage facility Wednesday night has been determined to be arson, fire investigators said Friday.
The fire at Auburn Way Self Storage, in the 4500 block of Auburn Way North, broke out at about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and raged through at least 14 units before it was extinguished hours later. Firefighters needed axes and chainsaws to break through the metal walls of the facility.
http://liarcatchers.com/arson_investigation.html
Investigators believe the fire was deliberately set in a single storage unit in building “E”. The source of ignition and materials first ignited are not being released at this time due to the ongoing investigation, said Valley Regional Fire Authority spokesperson Kimberly McDonald.
Witnesses said the fire spread quickly, sending smoke and flames billowing high into the air.
“It … looked like it was getting bigger and faster, like, really quick and there was no one there,” said one witness, Tom Buchholz, who called 911 when he spotted the flames.
Investigators are currently following up leads in cooperation with the Auburn Police Department.
Anyone who with information they believe would be helpful to the investigation is asked to call the arson tip line at 253-856-4460 and leave a message.
