$10,000 reward offered in case of 4 'suspicious' fires in Auburn Sunday night



AUBURN, Wash. --  Investigators with the Valley Regional Fire Authority said Monday that four structure fires in Auburn Sunday night are "suspicious" and asked for anyone with information to call their arson hotline.

In addition, an award of up to $10,000 is being offered by the Arson Alarm Foundation and NW Insurance Council for information leading to the arrest or conviction of those responsible for the fires.

Anyone with information about the fires is encouraged to call the Arson Hotline at 800-55-ARSON. Callers may remain anonymous.  Citizens may also call the Auburn Police Department tip line at 253-288-7403.

The VRFA said that at about 8:15 p.m. Sunday, four separate structure fires were reported in Auburn.

The first fire was reported at 8:17 p.m. in the 2200 block of M Street NE in an unoccupied duplex. The duplex was heavily damaged, the VRFA said.

At 9:03 p.m. a VRFA fire investigator spotted the second fire in the 1200 block of 16th Street NE.  Arriving crews found an exterior wall fire in a single family home. It was quickly extinguished and caused only minor damage.

A third fire was reported at 9:12 p.m. in the 1200 block of 11th Street NE. Firefighters arrived to find a fully engulfed two-car detached garage with one vehicle inside. The garage and car were a total loss.

The fourth fire was dispatched at 9:39 p.m. in the 1300 block of G Street SE. First arriving crews found a single-family home heavily involved with fire and spreading to an adjacent home. Three adults were displaced due to the fire. Both homes were heavily damaged.

There were no reported injuries to civilians. One firefighter suffered a minor medical emergency. He was taken to the hospital where he was treated and released with no restrictions, the VRFA said.