Firefighters were reportedly threatened by a man with an axe when they responded to a suspected arson of a home and vehicle Wednesday near Kingston.
Shots reportedly were fired by a neighbor who was trying to stop the alleged arsonist.
The home and vehicle were destroyed, but no one was seriously injured. There was an attempt to set another structure on fire, a Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office Facebook post says.
A deputy struggled with the 41-year-old man with the axe, who is from North Kitsap. The man had run off but returned and took the axe from a fire truck. A deputy, with the help of firefighters, was able to contain the man and take him into custody. He was transported to a local hospital for evaluation of minor injuries. Detectives were attempting to speak with him there.
Investigators learned that the man was witnessed by a neighbor allegedly pouring gasoline on the neighbor’s property. The neighbor confronted the suspect and fired shots at him, the Facebook report says. The neighbor is cooperating with detectives.
Law and fire agencies from across Kitsap County responded to the 27000 block of Burkes Lane NE at Highway 104 in Kingston. Firefighters immediately began to fight the fires but were unable to save either the home or the car.
Law enforcement will be on scene late into the night speaking with neighbors and processing evidence. Helping sheriff’s detectives and deputies were Poulsbo and Suquamish police.
Firefighters from North Kitsap, Poulsbo, Bainbridge Island and Central Kitsap also remain on scene tending to the fire.