Abandoned house near Ferndale lost in possible arson

A long-abandoned house burned to the ground near Ferndale on Saturday, Dec. 26, and firefighters say the cause could be arson.

The house, located at 5394 Hovander Road near Tennant Lake, was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived around 9:45 p.m. Saturday. Three fire engines and one water tender were unable to save the abandoned house, said District 7 Fire Chief Gary Russell..

“It was literally almost on the ground when we got there,” Russell said.

Nobody was injured, and nobody was on the property when firefighters arrived.

The cause of the fire could not be determined due to the extent of the damage, said investigator Mitch Nolze of the Whatcom County Fire Marshal’s Office.

Arson is a possible cause, Nolze said, but since there were no witnesses the fire won’t be investigated further unless more information comes out.

The value of the house was about $100, Nolze said.

Russell said the home had been abandoned for more than 15 years. There was no electricity or utility service at the house, and it was apparently uninsured, he said.

This story was originally published December 28, 2015 at 2:52 PM with the headline "Abandoned house near Ferndale lost in possible arson."