Multiple fires 'may be intentionally set' along I-5

MARYSVILLE, Wash. — As fire investigators look at the multiple brush fires along Interstate 5 as a possible arson, police are chasing the individual responsible and his trail of destruction on the freeway.

Nine separate fires burned along the Interstate 5 area between Marysville and Arlington on Tuesday afternoon, and another brush fire was put out in Skagit County.

BRUSH FIRES PUT OUT:

• Seven fires SB I-5 in Marysville
• One fire I-5 NB in Marysville
• One fire is NB near Arlington area
• One at NB 5 at Starbird Road in Skagit County
• One fire at I-5 and 37th Street NE, MP197
• Semi was also on fire, likely not related

Men sought in fires

Two men are being sought in connection with multiple brush fires that occurred near Marysville along I-5. Officials with the Everett Fire Department said on Tuesday afternoon they would be investigating the fires as possible arson.

Police say they were able to recover a fingerprint from a flare.

The two men were last seen at mile post 218 -- which is where the latest fire started.

Washington State Patrol Sgt. James Arnold said the fires were catching in a North-South direction, when the wind was coming from the East.

“Coincidence? I think not. That was my initial reaction, was this is definitely intentional,” Arnold said.

Sue Lane, who drove past several of the fires, said she thought one was a controlled burn at first. But she thought it was odd to see only one vehicle parked by the fire, with no fire crews there.

“I thought, ‘if you’re burning the brush now, why don’t you have a fire truck or somebody – a hose there, checking it up?” Lane said.

Where the fires started

KIRO 7 Chopper and Washington State Patrol spotted seven seperate fires along Southbound Interstate 5 in Marysville near 15th Street.

>> PHOTOS: Multiple brush fires burning in Marysville

Southbound 5 through Marysville was temporarily closed, but has since reopened with traffic severely congested.

The backup, which was once up to 10 miles long, continued into the evening commute.

DOT cameras showed traffic slowing as cars trying to drive through the smoke when the fires started around 12:30 p.m. Below is a map of areas near where brush fires were started along I05.

WSDOT reported another fire on I-5 at northbound 5 to State Route 528 ramp around 1 p.m. A tree was on fire. The NB 5 ramp to SR 528 was partially blocked while a crew fought the fire in the median.

A crew also put out a brush fire in Skagit County at northbound 5 at Starbird Road.

Around 4 p.m., a brush fire was put out by I-5 and 37th Street Northeast, mile point 197.