By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
Arson investigators are looking into a find yesterday at an old wooden warehouse in downtown Centralia, a spot where someone intentionally set fire to stairs leading into the building.
It’s a scorched area only about four inches by eight inches in size and was cold when he examined it, Riverside Fire Authority Assistant Chief Rick Mack said this morning.
Mack said he doesn’t know if it’s related to the early May arson spree that damaged three churches, a coffee stand and Centerville, the western store at the north end of the Centralia Outlets.
“Clearly it was set intentionally, Mack said.
The building on the 400 block of South Tower Avenue currently has multiple occupants, but originally was Sherwood Forest Farms, according to Mack.
It would have been a very devastating fire if it had not extinguished itself, he said. He said it appeared to have smoldered for a good period of time.
Centralia police said it appeared to have occurred sometime during the past week. Mack said he doesn’t know when it happened.
A team of police and fire personnel are continuing their investigation into the unsolved arsons.
“We’re still looking for information,” Mack said. “If anyone knows or hears anything, we want to talk to them, regardless of how remote they might think it is.”
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For background, read “Early May north Centralia church fire could also be arson, officials now say” from Monday May 20, 2013, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter