Centralia House Fire Deemed ‘Suspicious’

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Detectives from the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed an unoccupied house early Monday morning outside of Centralia as a possible arson.

Prior to the fire, the house, located on the 1900 block of Van Wormer Street was vacant for nearly 15 years and did not have any power going to it. The homeowner, a 89-year-old Centralia woman currently lives in an elderly assistance center.



When fire crews arrived shortly after 1 a.m. Monday, the single-family structure was fully involved with fire extending to nearby grass and trees located adjacent to structure, according to a Riverside Fire Authority press release.

It is unknown how the fire started however the circumstances have been described as “suspicious,” according to the sheriff’s office. The house had an assessed value of $139,000.