[1]Response at Centerville Western Store on Lum Road / Courtesy photo by Riverside Fire Authority
Updated at 6:12 p.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
Three fires broke out within less than an hour overnight in Centralia, causing damage at two church buildings and a third at the Outlet Mall.
They are under investigation.
It began about 3:20 a.m. when a female showed up at the front door of the downtown fire station and said she thought there was a fire next to the Centralia Church of the Nazarene on the 1200 block of West First Street, according to Riverside Fire Authority Capt. Tim Adolphsen.
At 3:35 a.m. crews were called to the Centerville store off Lum Road, he said.
And just after 4 a.m., they were notified of another at a church on the 2500 block of Seward Avenue, he said.
Nobody was injured, he said.
Investigators have concluded already the last fire, at Calvary Chapel in north Centralia, was from an electrical issue, but the other two are arson, Chief Jim Walkowski said.
Fire investigators and police going to have a busy day, he said.
“We’re trying to find people who may have wanted to do harm to these buildings,” Walkowski said.
The most seriously damaged was the house just west of the Nazarene Church, which is used for youth activities, according to firefighters. The bulk of the fire was in its garage area however, Walkowski said.
He estimated the loss to as much as $50,000.
“That has been deemed a set fire, that’s an arson,” Walkowski said. “From where it started and the burn patterns, it was definitely a set fire, not an accident.”
The chief said he was just arriving at the scene when they were informed of an alarm activation at Centerville, the western store at the north end of the Centralia Outlets, so he headed that way instead.
Flames there originated in a hot water tank enclosure attached to the east end of the structure, he said.
“We were able to get inside quick enough so they will be open for business today,” Walkowski said.
The chief is asking residents who may have surveillance cameras to take a look at their footage to see if they show any vehicles or even people walking down the streets. And to please call him at 736-3975 or the police department if they find anything.
“We’ve solved lots of fires with these,” Walkowski said.
Four other fire departments, from Rochester to Napavine, assisted, he said.
The fire damage at the church on Seward Avenue was minimal, although it sustained some smoke and water damage, according to Walkowski.
By 10:30 a.m., crews learned of an attempt to burn yet another building, Cooks Hill Community Church on the 2400 block of Cooks Hill Road. They don’t know when it occurred, because it failed.
“One of the workers walked outside and found the side of the church had scorch marks,” Walkowski said.
The chief said they are asking folks to be hyper vigilant, and be sure to move any combustible materials away from the exterior of their homes or buildings.
A fire earlier in the night at the north end of Chehalis remains under investigation as well, he said.
Crews were called about 1 a.m. to the Firehouse Espresso stand on the 2300 block of Kresky Avenue. Flames were found on the backside, which were quickly knocked down, according to Chehalis Fire Department Firefighter-Investigator Jay Birley.
Birley said they had a garbage can behind the structure, and he’s suspicious about cigarette butts.
“It’s looking toward accidental, but I won’t know more till later today,” Birley said.
He’s described the damage to the coffee stand as moderate.