Street of Dreams arson fires
 | This article may be excessively based on contemporary reporting. (March 2024) |
On March 3, 2008, four multimillion-dollar homes were set on fire in Echo Lake, Washington, on Echo Lake Road, off State Highway 522.[1] Slogans spray-painted on one of the burned houses' fences attributed the arson to the Earth Liberation Front, with words such as "Built Green? Nope black! McMansions in RCDs r not green. ELF." ELF is a collective name for anonymous and autonomous individuals or groups that, use "economic sabotage and guerrilla warfare to stop the exploitation and destruction of the natural environment".[2]
The houses were built in the summer of 2007 as part of "Seattle Street of Dreams" project, an annual luxury home showcase offered across the United States and parts of Canada. The 2007 theme was "green and sustainable building"; one property had won an award from a local group known as BuiltGreen.[3]
Residents and drivers within the area immediately called nearby fire departments, who were able to save one of the four houses set on fire. The fire caused $7 million worth of damage.[4] No one was injured in the fire, as the homes were unoccupied at the time. The homes were rebuilt after the fire.
 | This section needs to be updated. (January 2022) |
The FBI, police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are currently investigating[needs update] the incident. Some question whether the arson was an ELF action or an act of insurance fraud.[5][6] The developer of one of the houses destroyed in the fire has since pleaded guilty to multiple counts of first-degree theft associated with his construction projects.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ "Snohomish County News | Suspicious fires destroy 3 Street of Dreams homes, damage 1, in Snohomish County | Seattle Times Newspaper". 2008-03-06. Archived from the original on 2008-03-06. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
- ^ "SUV Armageddon Approaching?". Car Keys. August 29, 2003. Archived from the original on March 12, 2004.
- ^ "Quinn's Crossing Fire Update 3-3-08 3:00 PM". Seattle Street of Dreams. March 3, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
- ^ "Luxury Homes Burn in Apparent Eco-Attack". AP. March 3, 2008. Archived from the original on March 6, 2008.
- ^ Street of Dreams: ELF Arson, or Insurance Scheme?, "Green Is The New Red", April 28, 2010.
- ^ "Local News | Arson group retreats even more into shadows | Seattle Times Newspaper". 2008-03-18. Archived from the original on 2008-03-18. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
- ^ "Local News | 'Street of Dreams' homebuilder pleads guilty to stealing sales tax | Seattle Times Newspaper". 2010-08-15. Archived from the original on 2010-08-15. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
External links
[edit]- Earth Liberation Front
- Eco-terrorism
- Arson in Washington (state)
- 2008 fires in the United States
- 2008 in Washington (state)
- Terrorist incidents in the United States in 2008
- Residential building fires in the United States
- Fires in Washington (state)
- March 2008 crimes in the United States
- Terrorist incidents in Washington (state)
- Arson in 2008