In the days since a string of arson fires at local churches, investigators haven’t encountered any other fires that seemed suspicious or obviously connected to the other three, Clark County Fire Marshal Jon Dunaway said.
“We continue to follow up on leads that we’re getting and follow up on items that are coming through the tip line and email,” he said.
Intentionally lit fires damaged First United Congregational Church of Christ on May 25, Liberty Bible Church of the Nazarene the next day and the former Bethesda Slavic Church on May 29.
County agencies and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives formed a special task force to investigate the arsons; a $20,000 award has been offered for information that leads to a conviction.
“Each of the task force member agencies are all following up an different things and doing different things in their jurisdictions,” Dunaway said. “The work continues.”
Anyone with tips can contact investigators through the Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office at 360-397-2186, ext. 3324, or the Clark County Sheriff’s Office at 360-397-6079. Tipsters also can contact the Clark County Sheriff’s Office tip line at 877-274-6311 or by email at CCSOMCU@gmail.com.
Investigators have also been busy with several house fires since last weekend.
Deputy Fire Marshal Curtis Eavenson said an early Tuesday morning fire that displaced two adults and two pets north of Yacolt burned so intensely investigators won’t be able to definitively narrow down its cause.
The fire appeared to have started in the building’s attic, he said, and destroyed the log cabin-style home.
An unattended candle sparked a fire in a Camas home’s basement Saturday, Camas Fire Marshal Ron Schumacher said. The fire did about $75,000 in damage, he said.
Another fire, on Monday night, destroyed an old travel trailer in Lake Merwin Campers Hideaway.
“There was such extensive damage to it. I don’t think we’ll ever be able to determine the cause of that one,” he said.
Information on the investigation into a Monday fire at a home east of Vancouver was unavailable. That fire displaced two adults and two children, according to the Vancouver Fire Department.
