Third Suspicious Fire in Ten Months Burns Montesano Restaurant
A 4 a.m. blaze destroyed the Elk restaurant and scorched a neighboring home—the third suspected incendiary fire in the area in ten months.
Montesano, May 6.—Special.—The Elk restaurant was burned this morning at 4 o’clock, and a dwelling house adjoining was scorched. The restaurant was old and worth little. The loss to the building will be $700. It was insured. The dwelling was occupied by Mrs. E. L. Bristow. The fire was of incendiary origin, and makes the third attempt of the kind in this vicinity inside of the last ten months. A fair supply of water kept the fire from spreading.
“The fire was of incendiary origin, and makes the third attempt of the kind in this vicinity inside of the last ten months.”
Montesano’s third suspicious fire in ten months raised the specter of a serial arsonist in a small timber town. Today, arson patterns still get close attention from small-town fire departments and insurers, and the line between accident and intent remains hard to prove.
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