Sheriff’s office investigating possible Blyn arson attempt

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, June 19, 2019

Clallam County Sheriff’s Office is investigating what might be an attempted arson in Blyn this week.

Fire Chief Ben Andrews with Clallam County Fire District 3 said fire crews reported at 1 p.m. Sunday, June 16, to the 2100 block of Old Blyn Highway to a fire less than 4 feet in size on the outside of the home’s wall. The fire was out by the time fire crews arrived, he said; however, two people were seen leaving the property when the fire was first discovered.

Andrews said fire district investigators continue to evaluate the fire while the possible arson attempt was turned over to the sheriff’s office for a criminal investigation.

Chief Criminal Deputy Brian King said the incident is “definitely a suspicious fire.”

He said the fire started on the deck and burned the outer wall on the single story home, a residence owned by the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe.

“The renter looked out and could smell smoke,” King said. “She observed two people running down the driveway.”

The initial report said it was two juveniles running down the road, but sheriff deputies said they believe they know the adult suspects; as of Monday, deputies had not interviewed the suspect.

King said the deputy has “a good idea who these people are,” that the renter is familiar with them and there may have been previous conflicts between them all.

“We’re trying to identify the two people first before determining if it’s an arson or not,” King said. “Can we yet call it an arson? No. The first step is identifying them. The deputy is working on that.”

What the two people used to ignite the fire remains under investigation, too, King said.

No one was injured from the fire, the fire department reported.

Look for an update on the Gazette’s website and in next week’s edition as more information becomes available.

Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.