Olympic Park Buildings Hit By Arsonist
Arson destroyed a Lake Crescent ranger station and the small building at the Soleduck entry to Olympic National Park.
It was the second time in a year the Soleduck entry station was destroyed by a set fire.
Curt Sauer, chief ranger, said yesterday the fires occurred about 10 p.m. Friday. The buildings were unoccupied, and there were no injuries.
Sauer estimated damage at $30,000 for the Fairholm Ranger Station, at the west end of Lake Crescent, and $12,000 for the Soleduck building.
He said both would be rebuilt - the entry station by the summer tourist season - in the familiar rustic-wood style that might be considered vulnerable to an arsonist's match. ``Park visitors still come first, even with a bunch of criminals running around,'' he said.
The Soleduck station was burned in June at the same time an attempt was made to burn the park's headquarters in Port Angeles. Sauer said there were a couple of suspects, although no arrests were made.