Moses Lake fire could be arson

MOSES LAKE — Evidence is leading Moses Lake investigators to suspect arson in a fire destroying a building on West Broadway Avenue Saturday night.

The blaze gutted the building, which housed Edward Jones, First National Home Loans and ShirtBuilders.

“It is certainly suspicious at this point,” said Moses Lake Fire Department Assistant Chief Brett Bastian. “We can’t rule out arson and I can’t rule it in either. I don’t have enough information to rule out that it was a set fire.”

The Moses Lake police are investigating several aspects to help determine if the fire was set deliberately.

“We’re kind of assisting the police department,” said Bastian. “We are working on the cause-of-origin part and they are working on the arson part … It’s far too early in the  investigation on whether to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on if it was arson.”

Investigators were not able to enter the remains of the building Monday due to damage to the steel support beams bearing the weight of the roof. Bastian said a structural engineer will determine if it is safe for them to enter and continue their investigation.

Preliminary evidence indicates the fire began near the rear section of the First National Home Loans office.

“We were able to completely eliminate the back half of the building … it didn’t start there,” said Bastian. “I was able to determine the source origin is in the mortgage company office … and it spread to the Edwards Jones office.”

Police continue their investigation while fire investigators wait for the assessment of the damaged remains of the building.

“We have it limited down to  a fairly small part of the building,” he said. “Once we are in there, we will be able to process the scene in a day … it maybe a two-day process.”

The Columbia Basin Herald was unable to reach police administrators for comment.