Tips wanted in west Vancouver arson case

Fire officials are seeking tips in an arson case in which 15 fires were intentionally set overnight Friday and late Monday night in Vancouver.

“We have a lot of tips coming in, and we’re following up on every single one of them,” Vancouver Fire Marshal Heidi Scarpelli said.

But investigators are asking more people to come forward with information and are even offering a reward for the public’s help. Through the Arson Alarm Foundation, the Vancouver Fire-Arson Team is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the fires.

“We really rely on our community when we have an issue that comes up like this that’s so violent and potentially damaging to our community,” Scarpelli said.

Five fires were reported Saturday morning. In those, three flags were destroyed, along a fence, a garbage receptacle and a paper bag on a front porch.

Ten more fires were started late Monday night, damaging garbage and recycling receptacles, fences and part of a Mazda truck. The fires happened in Vancouver’s Shumway, Lincoln, Carter Park and Hough neighborhoods.

The most damaging fire happened at about 11 p.m. Monday in the 300 block of West 25th Street, when part of a detached garage was destroyed by flames.

Officials haven’t made an arrest yet in the case. Anyone with information is asked to call to leave a tip 24 hours a day at 360-607-7991.