Domestic Terrorism Investigation
Whoever did it left a calling card at one house. The sign on the front yard said, 'Where are all the trees? Burn, rapist, burn. E.L.F"
E.L.F. stands for the Earth Liberation Front, a group known to engage in eco-terrorism.
"It goes beyond arson to domestic terrorism. It's typically what this group has been involved in," said Sgt. John Urquhart with the King County Sheriffs Department.
Inside the house at Inglewood Hill Road and East Lake Sammamish Parkway, investigators found the gas turned on and discovered a device used to start a fire. The device did not work.
"We have a device that appears similar in nature to devices we have in the Metropolitan area," said Special Agent in Charge Kalvin Crenshaw with the ATF.
ATF agents think the device is similar to those used one year ago to torch houses at Lobo Ridge in Snohomish County. ELF took responsibility for that attack. The group targeted four homes, two burned to the ground.
"It's pretty amazingly stupid," said neighbor David Ammon, "and arrogant to burn homes knowing that the lumber is going to be replaced and other trees are going to replace that lumber."
David wondered if his home, just two blocks away, was also a target.
At 5:00 a.m. a fire burned his home, which is also under construction. It destroyed his garage, but firefighters saved the house.
"They got lucky and I got unlucky this morning," said Ammon.
Neighbors around the first house say the owner did cut down the trees and plans to build two more houses on the lot. But neighbors see it happening all around them.
Neighbor Doug Rasmussen said, "So it's well within their rights to do what they did . And whoever did the fire, if it was something related to the wildlife or the trees, there's better ways to deal with it."