At least seven fires have been set in recent weeks, damaging property and endangering lives from Tukwila to Renton and throughout unincorporated south King County.
One fire off 130th Place in Tukwila damaged property, but caused no injuries. Another destroyed an empty vehicle belonging to Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway. Two others shut down train travel on nearby tracks.
All are believed to have been started by 40-year-old James Goad, who set even more, according to Marty Grisham, city of Tukwila’s emergency manager. “We’re actually looking at some fires that go back to May,” Grisham told KIRO 7. “The fires were starting to escalate. With some of the fires, there was fuel added that made it extremely dangerous for our firefighters. So we’re very relieved to have our suspect.”
Police and fire officials from Renton, King County, Tukwila and even federal agents from the ATF, worked together to investigate the incidents of arson.
A break in the case came earlier this week when a computer stolen from burning property pinged to a homeless encampment off Beacon Cole Mine Road South. Goad – originally from Arkansas -- was arrested there.
On Thursday, King County Superior Court Judge Pro Tem Teri Luken set Goad’s bail at $25,000, citing the current danger any fire set in the northwest currently poses for the entire community.
“The dry conditions, the damage could endanger persons as well as property if it were to spread,” Lukens said during a hearing at the King County Regional Justice Center in Kent.
Investigators wouldn’t reveal how the fires were started, only that there are common elements, including some type of accelerant.
“The addition of accelerants that were added into the mix additionally jeopardized our crews’ safety,” Tukwila assistant fire chief Chris Flores said. “So we’re very relieved” a suspect has been arrested, he said.
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