Eco-Terrorism?
$2 million homes burn

Mar 4 | archive | subscribe

Four large model homes are engulfed in flames in a development north of Woodinville, Washington, and the FBI is investigating as act of domestic terrorism.

Fire engulfed five luxury homes Monday morning at a subdivision north of Seattle in what could be a case of ecoterrorism, officials said.

Eco-terrorism or ecoterrorism is the concept of terrorism conducted for the sake of ecological or environmental causes.

A sign with the letters "ELF" was found at the scene of the fires in the "Street of Dreams" development in Woodinville, Washington, said Chief Rick Eastman of Snohomish County Fire District No. 7. Eastman did not say if the sign is believed to be from the Earth Liberation Front, which the FBI has called an ecoterrorist group. He also said there had been no injuries and there were no suspects.

"My understanding is that it was an act of terror," said John Heller, president of Seattle Street of Dreams. “The fire chief and was told that the fires were suspicious.”

“It's very disappointing to take a situation where we're tying to promote good building practices — Built Green practices — and that it's destroyed. It's extremely disappointing. I don't understand the logic in that.” Doug Barnes, Northwest division president of Centex Homes

"Built green? Nope black!" the sign reads, according to an image from CNN affiliate KING-TV in Seattle. The sign calls the homes "McMansions."

Seattle's Street of Dreams is "the most popular and highest attended single site luxury home and garden tour in the U.S.," according to the event's Web site.

ELF is known for trying to cause economic damage to companies or organizations it considers to be harming the environment. The group has no organized structure or leadership; typically, autonomous cells of activists take "direct actions" such as arsons and claim responsibility on behalf of ELF.

Since 1990, more than 1,200 criminal acts in the U.S. have been attributed to ELF and its sister organization, the Animal Liberation Front, said FBI spokesman Bill Carter.
Most notorious was a 2003 fire that destroyed an apartment complex near the University of California, San Diego, causing $50 million in damage.

The Building Industry Association of Washington and the FBI were offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

Anyone who has knowledge of these fires is asked to call the Arson Hotline (800-55-ARSON) or contact authorities. Callers may remain anonymous.