Arson blamed for central Washington wildfires | Seattle Times

[Ediacara]

Arson blamed for central Washington wildfires

By Shannon Dininny
The Associated Press

THORP, Kittitas County - Amber Schlichting cried when she heard the news: Her family's home was one of two houses destroyed in a wind-fanned wildfire that roared through a nearby canyon a day earlier.

To many, that wasn't even the worst news delivered today, as local officials announced the fire was the work of an elusive arsonist. The fire was the 11th blaze started by a firebug in central Washington's Kittitas County in the past two months, but the first to destroy structures.

Two homes, including Schlichting's, and a workshop were burned in the blaze.

The arson cases are draining local officials and residents, Kittitas County Undersheriff Clayton Myers said.

"It's had a substantial impact on us. It's stressing our resources. In fact, we've moved beyond what our resources can handle," he said.

More at the Seattle Times

[asianjoanne]

1. This is so sad...

My home state is on fire...all those beautiful acres of forest being burned because some dummy just couldn't stomp out his cigarette butt or couldn't wait to become pyro-happy.

I remember hearing that Bush wants to cut down more "domestic resources" here in the U.S. Meaning TREES in the U.S....which most will come from WA and Oregon...wouldn't it suck if this was Bush's doing? lol

I know that's REALLY stupid to say. Just forget I said it. I just hate seeing my home state in a state of peril...