Two Arrested in Pierce County for Starting Fires, Batiste Says Coordinated Effort Just Rumor

A Labor Day weekend filled with sudden, catastrophic fires has left many in the Pacific Northwest wondering if the blazes were part of a coordinated, intentional effort.

State Patrol Chief John Batiste spoke during a press conference Friday on the subject.

"We know that there is a lot of rumors spreading around on social media about an organized effort to set fires, but we have no knowledge of that." explained Batiste, "We have been unable to discover that in conversations with our fire community or amongst law enforcement."

Batiste did admit two people have been arrested in Pierce county for starting fires. One of the two suspects was arrested after a Highway Patrol trooper saw the individual starting a fire near the intersection of State Route 512 and SR 7. The other suspect was arrested by a Fife police officer after setting a fire off of SR 167.

The separate incidents do not appear to have any kind of link, according to Batiste.