Soap Lake school fire ruled arson

Building did not have electricity

SOAP LAKE - Investigators ruled a Nov. 18 fire at an empty former Soap Lake school building was caused by arson.

The building was not connected to electricity at the time of the fire.

Delancey-Houghton Elementary School's gym was damaged in the blaze. A damage estimate wasn't available Tuesday.

There were plans by the school's Seattle-area owner to tear the uninsured building down, said Bruce Gribble, Grant County's chief deputy fire marshal.

The building, which is on Canna Street, was bought earlier this year from the Soap Lake School District for $92,000 by a man named David Ready, according to the school district. The school was last used about four years ago as a center for after-school and outreach programs.

The Grant County Fire Marshal's Office and Soap Lake Police Department are investigating the blaze.

The fire marshal's office completed the on-scene investigation last week and police were following up on leads, Gribble said.

"Now we're hoping for some leads from the public," he said.

To report information about the fire, call the fire marshal's office at 509-754-2011 or police at 509-246-1122.