KGMI Bellingham Police Department
BELLINGHAM, Wash. Bellingham police arrested a man suspected of arson after a fire and explosion at the tent encampment near City Hall.
Lieutenant Claudia Murphy says officers responded to reports of a fire on the north lawn of the Bellingham Public Library on the afternoon of December 5th and arrived to find the area formerly occupied by the fountain engulfed in flames.
While the fire department put out the blaze, investigators determined the suspect had propane tanks in his tent, two of which exploded in the fire.
Suspect Robert Cisar fled the scene, but was taken into custody five days later after authorities identified him via a photo from surveillance footage.
Bellingham police arrest man suspected of arson at homeless camp outside library
The Bellingham Herald 12/14/2020 David Rasbach, The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Wash.)
Dec. 14 Police have arrested the man they suspect last week started a fire at a homeless encampment outside the Bellingham Public Library that caused two propane tanks to explode.
Bellingham police booked Robert Alan Cisar, 54, into Whatcom County Jail Thursday, Dec. 10, on suspicion of first-degree arson, and jail records show he is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail.
Bellingham Fire and Police responded at approximately 12:49 p.m. Dec. 5 to what the north lawn of the library for the report of a fire and several loud explosions, Police Lt. Claudia Murphy told The Bellingham Herald in an email. When officers arrived, they found the area that formerly had a fountain on it engulfed in flames.
Bellingham finds new site for winter shelter for those who are homeless
The Bellingham Herald 12/11/2020 Kie Relyea, The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Wash.)
Up to 28 people who are homeless will stay at a temporary winter shelter at Frank Geri Softball Fields on Puget Street, according to an email from the Bellingham mayor’s office on Thursday, Dec. 10.
Bellingham nonprofit HomesNOW! will operate the encampment, which will be located in the parking lot for the softball fields that are part of the Civic Athletic Complex in the Puget neighborhood.
HomesNOW! already runs Unity Village, a tiny homes encampment located in the parking lot at 210 McKenzie Ave. near the Post Point Water Treatment Plant in the Fairhaven neighborhood.