Arsonists strike in Snohomish: 2 new homes destroyed, 2 threatened

SNOHOMISH — Federal agents are investigating arsons that destroyed two new homes and threatened two others early yesterday. The flames gutted two unoccupied homes in the new Lobo Ridge development on 80th Street Southeast. Firefighters quickly put out a small blaze in a third house and found evidence the arsonists had tried unsuccessfully to light a fire in a fourth house.

No one was hurt in the fires, which were reported at about 1:20 a.m. by a neighbor who spotted flames. Fire officials estimated at least $800,000 worth of damage. The FBI and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting with the investigation.

"It is arson, there's no doubt," said Snohomish County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Jan Jorgensen. "It's very unusual to have something like this happen in a new home."

Jorgensen acknowledged "rumors" that eco-terrorists are responsible for the arsons.

"It's certainly a possibility," she said. "No one has claimed responsibility."

Realtor Barry McGee lives in Lobo Ridge and is the selling agent for the destroyed homes. He said firefighters knocked on his door at about 2 a.m., and he woke his teenage kids and walked down the street to see the fire.

"It was quite the inferno," he said. "It was not fun to watch."

Neighbors of one of the houses that burned down had just moved in and were spending their first night in their home Monday.

They stood in their yard and watched firefighters battle the flames next door, said Ron Simmons, deputy fire chief for Snohomish County Fire District 4.

The sale of one of the destroyed homes was scheduled to close next week, and builder Mark Marzolf said the buyer still wants it and is going to wait for the house to be rebuilt. A flier in front of the homes advertised them at $360,000 and $370,000.

"There's so much devastation there that we'll probably (only) be able to save the concrete foundation," Marzolf said.

All 37 homes in the Lobo Ridge development are on half-acre to three-quarter-acre lots and are next to Lobo Golf Course, about a half-mile east of Snohomish.

"It's quite disconcerting," said McGee. "You just don't expect something like that in the Snohomish area."

Seattle Times staff reporter Jennifer Sullivan contributed to this report.

Emily Heffter: 425-783-0624 or eheffter@seattletimes.com