Arrest In Gascoigne Lumberyard Fire, Other North Seattle Arsons

SEATTLE, WA - Seattle police used a DNA sample to find a man suspected of setting five fires in North Seattle late last year, including the massive blaze at the Gascoigne Lumberyard.

Seattle investigators collected DNA evidence at the scene of one of the fires, which matched the profile of a man in the state crime database. The 38-year-old was already in custody in Whatcom County.

The man is accused of setting fires at an office complex, Seattle Elks Lodge No. 92, the lumberyard, a Ballard gym, and a Ballard restaurant between Oct. 28 and Nov. 28. The fires caused an estimated $4.5 million in damage, Seattle police said.

The four-alarm fire at Gascoigne Lumber broke out Nov. 10 along West Ewing Street. The fire destroyed five buildings, and was still burning three days later. The fire started in a storage shed on the Gascoigne property. The fire caused about $4.3 million in damage.