The Herald - Everett, Wash. - www.HeraldNet.com
Published: Friday, January 20, 2006
Federal agents say a
message claiming association with the Earth Liberation Front was found at the
site of a Camano Island house fire.
CAMANO ISLAND - A pink bedsheet found outside a house gutted by fire
Tuesday was signed by someone claiming to be associated with the environmental
extremist group Earth Liberation Front, federal investigators said Thursday
night.
Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
determined that arsonists ignited the blaze, which destroyed a
9,600-square-foot house overlooking Skagit Bay. The ATF estimated the loss at
about $2 million, which was down from earlier estimates.
No one was hurt in the fire.
The Arson Alarm Foundation and Washington Insurance Council are
offering up to a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest
and conviction of the people responsible for the Tuesday arson that
destroyed a Camano Island house under construction. Anyone with
information is asked to call 888-283-3473. The FBI, which investigates arsons thought to be the work of ecoterrorists,
have found other banner bedsheets at fires started by people claiming to be
associated with the group, FBI spokeswoman Robbie Burroughs said.
Along with the signature, a threatening message was spray-painted on the
bedsheet and draped over the gate leading to the house, located in the 1000
block of Good Road.
The FBI has refused to comment on the contents of the message.
ELF has claimed responsibility for a number of arsons at houses under
construction in the Puget Sound region. The loosely knit group took
responsibility for arsons that destroyed two Snohomish houses under
construction, and for attempts at several others in 2004.
"It is clear from past statements and recent actions of ELF that urban
sprawl has become a central issue in the struggle to protect the Earth," said
a statement released by the group's press office after the 2004 fires in
Snohomish County.
No arrests have been made in connection with those fires, Burroughs said.
A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information leading to the
arrest and conviction of the people responsible for the arson on Camano
Island.
Homeowner Mark Verbarendse told The Herald Tuesday that he couldn't
understand why his house would have been targeted. He could not be reached for
comment on Thursday.
Verbarendse and his wife, Karla, spent more than a year building their
dream house, using recycled materials in some of the construction.
The couple and their four children planned to move into the house in
February. Instead, the family will spend another year rebuilding the house,
Verbarendse said.
Reporter Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463 or hefley@heraldnet.com.
"A
message left at the scene claiming responsibility appears to have been written
by an environmental extremist group, but at this time, we are not ruling out
any motive for the arson," said Laura Laughlin, FBI special agent in charge.
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