Fire at Whatcom-area home of state trooper being investigated as arson
A fire at the home of a Washington State Patrol trooper in the Everson-Nooksack area Tuesday afternoon is being investigated as an arson. Nobody was injured in the fire, and damage was minimal.
“I can’t give a lot of detail at this time, but we are investigating it as an arson,” Everson Police Chief Daniel MacPhee told The Bellingham Herald Thursday.
A few minutes before 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, a neighbor noticed a fire and smoke near the front door of the house, said MacPhee, who confirmed that a trooper lives at the residence. The neighbor then grabbed a garden hose and extinguished the fire, while another neighbor called 911.
“We did respond to the fire, but our involvement was fairly limited,” Whatcom County Fire District 1 Chief Mel Blankers told The Herald. “They did a great job getting it out before we got there.”
Fire crews looked to make sure fire hadn’t spread to the rest of the structure, MacPhee said, and the Whatcom County Fire Marshal’s Office was called to investigate.
MacPhee said there was “minimal” damage to the door and front of the residence.
“Fortunately, nobody was home at the time, and nobody was hurt,” MacPhee said.
