Federal authorities are investigating after a suspicious fire broke out at the Puyallup Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses on Tuesday morning.
Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms and Tobacco agents responded to a fire at 11515 62nd Ave E. shortly before 8 a.m. Crews with Central Pierce Fire and Rescue also responded, tweeting that it was a small exterior fire.
The fire broke out at 2 a.m., according to fire officials. It didn't cause severe damage but sent smoke through the hall.
ATF Special Agents are on the scene of a Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall fire in Puyallup, Wash. pic.twitter.com/tCIQrNG41j
— ATF Seattle (@ATF_Seattle) August 13, 2019
The Pierce County Fire Marshal is investigating the cause.
This is one of several attacks on Jehovah's Witness Halls. The incidents started with two arsons March 19, 2018 at a Tumwater Kingdom Hall and a Hall on Cain Road in Olympia. On May 15, someone sprayed a Yelm Kingdom Hall with gunfire. The hall on Cain Road was hit with arson again and destroyed July 3. A suspicious device was found at a Yelm Hall August 8. In December 2018, a sixth incident saw a Lacey Hall completely destroyed by fire.
The Pierce County Fire Marshal is investigating the cause.
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