Agents extinguish weigh station fire

Published 4:46 pm Wednesday, March 19, 2014

by Sequim Gazette Staff

Border Patrol agents put out a fire at the Washington State Patrol weigh station early in the morning Feb. 2.

Around 1:45 a.m. the agents noticed flames coming from the station as they drove past on U.S. Highway 101 near O’Brien Road.

Clallam County Detective Sgt. Lyman Moores said the agents were able to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher. Because of their quick action, the building suffered only minor damage, he said.

Investigators from the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office found an accelerant was poured under the door from the east side of the building.

Evidence was sent to the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab for further analysis, but an arson investigation will continue under the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Bureau.

Moores said because the building wasn’t inhabited and no lives were in danger, the fire will be classified as second-degree arson.

Arson in the second degree is a class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and $20,000 in fines.