Arson investigation underway after $13 million Pullman fire

An arson investigation dog was expected to be brought Tuesday to the scene of Sunday’s Grove apartment complex fire, according to Rich Dragoo, lead investigator on the fire. The dog was used during the arson fires which hit Pullman in May of 2012, but investigators at this time do not believe the two incidents are related, according to an update from Pullman Mayor Glenn Johnson, who also serves as information officer for the department.

The updated report noted the owners of the College Grove complex, College Crest of North Carolina, estimate the loss of the Sunday morning fire, which destroyed four buildings that were under construction, at $13 million.

Three other firefighters and one police officer each from Pullman and the WSU departments are assisting Dragoo in the investigation. An investigator from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is also assisting.

In addition to the four buildings, 13 pieces of construction equipment were damaged by the fires and three of them were totaled. Heat from the fires melted vinyl siding on apartments at the neighboring Boulder Creek and Steptoe complexes and cracked windows at the WSU Research and Technology Park on the other side of Terre View.

A three-alarm fire which destroyed four apartment buildings under construction along Terre View in north Pullman was called suspicious by Pullman Fire Chief Mike Heston after the early morning fire battle Sunday.

Fire crews received the first 911 call at 3:16 a.m. and fire units departing the station on North Grand staton saw flames in the night sky and immediately called for assistance. Crews were called from other Pullman stations, Colfax, Moscow and rural districts, according to the first report from Johnson.

The complex under construction is located on 1560 NE Brandi Way, just off Terre View. It was located close to the Boulder Creek and Steptoe complexes which are occupied. Firefighters set up equipment in a defensive mode to protect the occupied buildings which were evacuated. They also saved four other apartments under construction.

First crews on the scene said the fire apparently started in the middle complex and spread to three other units that were in various stages of construction.

Pullman and WSU police officers evacuated the neighboring occupied apartment units.

Construction equipment damaged by the blaze included a front loader, bulldozers and a backhoe. Several vehicles parked near the back of the main complex were also damaged, Johnson reported.