News - Local News - On Patrol

POSTED: Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009

Four vehicles set on fire in Bellingham's Alderwood area

BELLINGHAM - Amanda Haines said she had no idea why anyone would want to set her car on fire.

The 24-year-old mother of two was one of at least four victims whose car was burned early Sunday morning, Oct. 25 in the Alderwood area just outside Bellingham city limits.

All four vehicles were set on fire between about 6:45 to 7:45 a.m.

The first fire was reported outside of a residence in the 3300 block of Alderwood Avenue. That fire also caused minor damage to the car parked next to it, said fire investigator Bill Hewett of the Whatcom County Fire Marshal's Office.

While crews worked to extinguish the fire, a neighbor alerted them to a second vehicle on fire at a nearby apartment complex, Hewett said.

At about 7:30 a.m., officials received a report of a third car on fire, Haines' 1990 Buick, in the 3400 block of Hollywood Avenue.

Soon after, a fourth car was set on fire in the 3400 block of West McLeod Road.

Haines said she was asleep when the fire started. The father of her two children had come over to take the kids to the store when he heard the sound of windows breaking and a "whoosh" sound of flames engulfing the car, she said.

Firefighters were at the scene before Haines and her family members were out the door, she said. Crews were able to put out the fire, but the car was destroyed, she said, along with car seats for her children, a 2-year-old daughter and a 4-year-old son.

Hewett said the fires are considered intentionally set, but there were no suspects yet.

Haines said she doesn't know why her car was targeted.

"That's the hardest part to wrap my brain around," she said.

Anyone who might have seen suspicious activity in Birchwood neighborhood Sunday morning, or who has any information about the fires, should call the Whatcom County Fire Marshal's Office at 676-6907.