PULLMAN, Wash. -
Update: Pullman fire investigator Rich Dragoo said the cause of Friday morning's fire at Planned Parenthood in Pullman was arson.
Dragoo, along with a joint fire investigative team made up of fire and police personnel, examined the building at 1521 SE King Dr. for most of the day following the fire that was discovered shortly after 3:30 a.m. Dragoo said after a couple of hours looking at the damage, he requested help from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to help with the investigation. Three agents were dispatched to Pullman from Spokane.
Fire officials said there was extensive fire, smoke and heat damage to the front portion of the building, which opened for business in September, 2012. Pullman public works director, Kevin Gardes, inspected the building Friday afternoon and posted it as structurally unsafe because of some of the damaged beams in the building.
Karl Eastlund, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater WA and North Idaho released the following statement Friday afternoon:
“We have received confirmation from law enforcement officials in Pullman that the fire at our health center earlier Friday morning was the result of arson and the building is damaged extensively. This is an appalling act of violence towards Planned Parenthood, but unfortunately a predictable ripple effect from the false and incendiary attacks that fuel violence from extremists. We are tremendously grateful for the outpouring of support from Eastern WA and the Pullman community. Our priority is to establish a safe operating site and re-convene services for our patients immediately. Although it will take time to rebuild our Pullman Health Center, we are committed to our patients in Pullman and will not let this attack disrupt services to the women, men, and families we serve.”
Previous coverage:
Arson investigators in Pullman are trying to figure out how a fire started at Planned Parenthood early Friday morning.
Pullman Police say they received reports of a burglary alarm that was tripped and when they showed up the building was on fire. Firefighters were able to first attack the fire through a broken window and quickly extinguished the flames, however police say the office and the attic of the building were burned. Fire investigators say it appears the fire had been going for some time before firefighters were alerted.
Fire chief Mike Heston called in his joint fire investigative team which consists of fire and police personnel to determine the cause of the fire. Firefighters from Whitman County Rural District 12 also responded to the scene.
