TACOMA, Wash. — The Tacoma Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect believed to have intentionally set a fire in Tacoma on Saturday morning.
Around 6:45 a.m., police and firefighters responded to a fire in the 300 block of East 26th Street. Early investigation shows the fire was intentionally set, according to police.
Surveillance footage captured a suspect behind the businesses just before the fire broke out.
Tacoma arson suspect
Tacoma police said they do not yet have enough information to connect the July 20 suspect to any of the fires in the past week, but they hope tips from the public will help determine if it is the same suspect.
On Sunday, July 14, Tacoma police and Tacoma Fire Department responded to a structure fire on the 1100 block of Dock Street which resulted in a total loss of the structure.
Hours later, there were several more fires, all on Puyallup Avenue, followed by two more fires Sunday evening and early Monday morning in Fife. Tacoma police reported three fires on Puyallup Avenue, and Tacoma fire reported two fires.
Tacoma police provided the following times and locations for the fires:
- July 14, 1:27 a.m. - 1100 block of Dock Street, Tacoma
- 7:55 a.m. - 1200 block of Puyallup Avenue, Tacoma
- 7:45 p.m. - 5100 block of Pacific Highway East, Fife
- July 15, 2:34 a.m. - 5300 block of 12th Street East, Fife
No injuries were reported in any of the fires.
The Tacoma Police Department is adding emphasis patrols throughout the city as a result of the arsons.
“The emphasis patrols will focus on the individual or individuals involved in the recent rash of arsons that have damaged property, and had the potential to endanger lives, as well as prevent any further incidents,” the police department said in a statement.
Anyone with information about the identity of the person or persons responsible for the fires is asked to contact Tacoma police, or leave a tip with Crime Stoppers using the P3tips app or by calling 1-800-222-TIPS.