Burglar Starts Early Morning Edmonds Condo Fire

Edmonds Police and fire investigators suspect an early morning condo fire in downtown Edmonds was an arson committed during a burglary. The occupants were asleep during the burglary, but escaped the fire uninjured.

Early this morning at about 1 a.m., Snohomish Fire District 1 units from the downtown Edmonds Fire Station responded to a smoke alarm in a condominium located in the 100 block of 3rd Ave North in Edmonds. 

Several condo units were evacuated including where the smoke alarm had originated on the 2nd floor of the building. 

After locating the source of the smoke and putting out the small blaze, the Fire Units cleared the building and requested Edmonds Police to the scene as they had uncovered some suspicious circumstances surrounding the fire. 

It was determined during the Police and Fire investigation that someone had entered the condominium unit where the smoke alarm had originated and had started a small fire. 

The unknown suspect also stole items from inside the unit while the homeowner was asleep.  After the unknown suspect had left, the homeowner was awakened by the smoke alarm and called 9-1-1. 

The homeowner and other occupants of the building were able to evacuate without any injury.

"That probably could have been a lot worse. There were no injuries and luckily minimal property damage. It was a small fire extinguished fairly quickly, it was mostly a lot of smoke," said Sgt. Mark Marsh, of the Edmonds Police Department.

The small fire and smoke damage was contained to a small area of the victim’s condominium unit.  Edmonds Police assisted by Lynnwood Police Department CST (Crime Scene Technicians) conducted interviews and collected evidence at the scene.  There is no further information at this time.

The investigation is continuing with updates to follow when additional information is available.

--Information from the Edmonds Police Department; Patch reporter Greg Johnston contributed to this report.