FBI, ATF search for clues

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WOODINVILLE, Wash. - Federal investigators say they have found no clear leads on how arsonists started the fires that destroyed three luxury homes near Woodinville.

At a press conference this morning, investigators said they are still in the early stages of the investigation into the fire that caused $7 million in damage at the "Street of Dreams."

"To this point no devices have been found," said Kelvin Crenshaw, special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms' Seattle office.

But he would not rule out a report that unignited fluid was found in one of the less damaged homes.

Crenshaw said investigators believe whoever set the fires used available fuels, flammable things they could find in the home to help get the fires started and they believe whoever started them did so with no delay devices.

Investigators also said the huge flames were fanned by ruptured natural gas lines.

Crenshaw said the only real clue is a spray-painted sign left at the scene of the Monday's pre-dawn fires bearing the initials of ELF, the Earth Liberation Front.

A 5-ft.-by-5-ft. hand-written sign which read "Built green? Nope BLACK!" was found near the scene of the fire Monday.  It mentioned "McMansions" and was signed ELF. The Earth Liberation Front (ELF) is known for trying to cause economic damage to companies or organizations it considers to be harming the environment.

FBI Special Agent David Gomez said while the FBI is treating the case as a domestic terrorism investigation, they're not ruling out any other motives.

"As the investigation progresses we'll be exploring all other motivations for committing this crime," he said.

"With the ELF situation, it's a claim of responsibility, and they are loose-knit," said Crenshaw. "So it could be individuals working in concert with one another or just making the claim on behalf of ELF. That's really all it takes is making a claim on behalf of ELF."

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Crenshaw would not comment on what investigators were looking at in pictures captured from Skyking.

Investigators said the fires could be the work of anyone who shares the ELF's philosophy of property destruction to protect nature, or it could be someone who just hated the development.

The project, touted as "green" developments, did not go over well with a lot of neighbors worried about wetlands, creeks and groundwater.

"The developers did do a lovely job putting in eco-friendly homes but there's no amount of properly twisted light bulbs that are going to take place in an aquifer that's being damaged," said neighbor Mary Ann Campbell.

Law enforcement agents are reportedly questioning whether the fires were timed to coincide with jury deliberations in the federal trial of an alleged ELF member accused of helping set the 2001 fire that gutted the University of Washington Center for Urban Horticulture.

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This 5-ft.-by-5-ft. note signed by ELF was discovered near the fire scene.

Despite the banner, it could take quite a while for investigators to nail down suspects.  It took almost a decade before investigators cracked a cell of ELF members responsible for more than a dozen arsons in the Pacific Northwest.

Architects and builders connected with thee homes are still shocked that apparent eco-terrorists would target these showcase homes.

"We used this opportunity with the Street of Dreams to try to demonstrate to other people how you can build a home with less environmental impact," said Grey Lundberg, CMI Homes president.

Reward offered

The Building Industry Association of Washington and the FBI are offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. The Northwest Insurance Council is offering a separate $10,000 reward.

Anyone who has knowledge of these fires is asked to call the Arson Hotline (800-55-ARSON) or contact authorities. Callers may remain anonymous.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.