Fires at OHS spur arson investigation

The Kitsap County Fire Marshal said that several fires at Olympic High School on June 20 were arson.

The Kitsap County Fire Marshal said that several fires at Olympic High School on June 20 were arson.

A reward up to $1,500 is being offered through the Arson Alarm Foundation for information regarding the fires.

Anyone who knows anything about the incident is encouraged to call 360-337-4442.

Police and firefighters were alerted to the fires at 10:17 p.m.

One school van was completely destroyed and another was damaged, but salvageable, after firefighters extinguished flames, according to authorities.

A Kitsap County Sheriff’s deputy extinguished a small fire in nearby brush.

A fire was set in a recycling bin area adjacent to the school.

“A blue plastic bin was set on fire along with a shop vac,” according to a police report. “This was set directly next to the window of G Pod (semi-permanent mobile classroom).”

A school custodian called 911 to report the various fires. She told police that she was doing an exterior security check of the building when she heard the fire alarm go of.

The woman ran to check a fire panel and it indicated that G Pod was activated. She headed that way and summoned other janitorial staff to the scene to help put the fire out.

The woman then noticed the fire near the vans and called that in as well. Police asked the custodian if she had seen any suspicious people in the area and she said that she had not. Other staff members also told police that they had not seen any suspicious activity.

A pair of deputies then walked the school grounds to see if any other fires had been set in the area, but none were found.