Detectives are investigating a fire at a rental truck lot in SODO that occurred early Friday morning.
On Friday morning around 1:30 a.m., multiple people called 911 after seeing several box trucks on fire near the 3400 block of 1st Avenue South. Seattle Fire Department firefighters were extinguishing the blaze when officers arrived and spoke to a witness, who reported he saw a man near where the fire was lit shortly before.
Officers located the 37-year-old man close to the rental truck lot fenceline and detained him. They noticed he had the strong smell of smoke on him and was in possession of a lighter. The witness positively identified the man as the same person he saw leaving the lot before the fire. Officers placed the man under arrest for felony property damage since the total damage to the three rental trucks was estimated to be more than $150,000. An employee at the scene could not access the security camera footage, although it did exist.
Later that morning, ABS detectives reviewed camera footage that the business provided, and they observed a different story.
The footage showed a vehicle arriving, with two suspects inside. They appeared to be trying to steal fuel from the box trucks when the fire ignited, engulfing the suspects and their vehicle. The vehicle drove out of the flames and left southbound on 1st Avenue South.
ABS detectives worked to release the 37-year-old man from King County Jail this morning after determining that he was not involved in setting the fire.
The Seattle Fire Department Fire Marshall assisted with the investigation and detectives with the Arson Bomb Squad will be responsible for the follow-up.
Detectives believe that one of the suspects may have a possible heat injury or singed hair and eyebrows. Anyone with information that could lead to an arrest of these suspects is asked to call the Seattle Police Tip Line at (206)-233-5000.
Incident: 2026-285907 / South Precinct / O1