Sears fire was arson - suspect in custody

According to our News Partner, The Seattle Times, the fire at Sears was arson.

Bail was set at $1 million Tuesday for a 38-year-old Shoreline man who is suspected of starting a fire inside a Sears department store earlier this month that has cost the retailer nearly $2 million in damage and lost business, according to the statement of probable cause outlining the police case against the man. 

The man was arrested at the police station in Shoreline on Monday and booked into the King County Jail on investigation of first-degree arson, according to the statement and jail records. 

The man is suspected of lighting mattress covers on fire in the home-fashions department at the Sears store in Shoreline on July 18, the statement says. While the fire “was held in check” when three overhead sprinklers were activated, smoke and water damage to the building, as well as lost business and merchandise “is approaching $2 million,” it says. It appears the man used cologne as an accelerant to start the fire.

The man, who is reported to be developmentally disabled, was well known to Sears loss prevention officers as someone who had been observed shoplifting on several occasions.

The fire was quickly brought under control, but there was extensive smoke and water damage.

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