Two Highland fires investigated as suspicious

HIGHLAND -- Two building fires early Wednesday in the Highland area are considered suspicious and remain under investigation.

A third fire, reported more than an hour before the others, destroyed a mobile home but does not appear connected, said Ron Rutherford of the Yakima County Fire Marshal's Office.

Rutherford did not have any inform-ation about the cause of the structure fires, which heavily damaged a house and a pumphouse. The largest was the house fire at 1501 Young Grade.

Naches Heights fire Chief Chris O'Dell estimated the fire caused about $120,000 damage. He said firefighters responded to the 5:18 a.m. alarm to find fire shooting from the structure.

The pumphouse fire at 6941 Naches Heights Road occurred about 5:40 a.m. O'Dell said the fire has left up to five homes on the community system without water. Damage there is estimated at $35,000.

The first blaze was reported about 4:10 a.m. in Cowiche and damaged a motor home and another vehicle parked nearby.

Rutherford said the motor home was burned to the frame, forcing investigators to record the cause as undetermined.