Arson Suspected In Granite Falls Fire

A fire that gutted a Granite Falls mobile home is being investigated as a possible arson, the Snohomish County fire marshal said yesterday.

And another fire yesterday afternoon caused about $20,000 damage to a Snohomish home.

The mobile-home fire, at 20230 Crystal Springs Drive, caused about $17,500 damage, said Deputy Fire Marshal Gary Bontrager. No one was home at the time of the fire. It was reported about 9:20 a.m. by a neighbor who spotted smoke. The fire spread quickly and within minutes the entire structure was ablaze.

Bontrager said various items were apparently missing from the mobile home before the fire, indicating a possible burglary.

The Snohomish home fire occurred about 1:40 p.m. at 917 N. Machias Road, and was limited to the roof and attic. It was caused by a woodstove insert in the masonry chimney that was set too close to combustible construction materials, Bontrager said.

No one was home at the time of the fire.