The Mayor said the city has seen lots of community support and that the city will rebuild as quickly as possible.
Police Chief Bonnie Bowers told the Council that “we are reviewing several hours of surveillance tapes” from the refineries, located near the east end of the trestle. Separately, she told Anacortes Now they are looking at two possible causes: accidental ignition by a passerby or arson.
Assistant Fire Chief John Bird said the fire was a difficult one to fight because of the limited access to water. Bird said the nearest hydrant was 3,200 feet from the fire at the west end of the trestle and 1,700 feet from the fire at the east end of the trestle. As a result, firefighters pumped Fidalgo Bay water.
City Parks & Recreation Director Gary Robinson said the city had support from a long list of other agencies, including La Conner and 3 other neighboring fire districts. He said 3 firefighters from La Conner were injured when their boat was blown into trestle pilings.
Robinson said the fire burned 401 feet of the Tommy Thompson Parkway trestle last Thursday.
Robinson said the fire was reported at 11:45am on Thursday, the first unit arrived at 11:51am and the fir was declared out at 3pm Friday. He added “It looks to me to be arson.”
The Anacortes Parks Foundation is offering a $500 reward for information on the cause of the fire. The police tip line is 299-1985.