Second Fire Hits Islamic Center Of Eastside Mosque In Bellevue

BELLEVUE, WA - Bellevue firefighters were battling a large fire at the Islamic Center of Eastside Wednesday afternoon. According to images from the scene, the entire building was engulfed in flames and smoke could be seen from the fire all around Bellevue.

This is the second fire at Islamic Center of Eastside in a little over a year. In late January 2017, a homeless man allegedly set the mosque on fire, damaging it beyond use. Isaac Wayne Wilson, 37, pleaded guilty in September to starting the fire.

Wilson was sentenced to 14 months in jail in October with 12 months to be served in community custody. He was also ordered to pay a $600 fine and was ordered to stay away from the Islamic Center of Eastside for five years.

There's no word yet what caused this latest fire, but the fire department is investigating.

"Fire under control. Building vacant. Cause yet to be determined," Bellevue fire posted on Twitter just after 5 p.m.

Since after last year’s fire, mosque leaders have been renting a space in A business park along NE 121st Street. Boosters have been raising money since last year to build an entirely new building.

Authorities first reported the fire around 4:30 p.m. Monday. The former mosque is located along the 14700 block of Main Street.

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Photo courtesy Bellevue Police