Neighbors douse 1 of 2 new arsons overnight in Greenwood

Janice and Grant Lehmann were asleep in their Greenwood home early this morning when they heard crackling sounds outside their window.

First believing it was rain, Grant Lehmann looked out his bedroom window and saw flames shooting from the porch of the accounting business behind his house.

Grant Lehman dialed 911, and then the couple grabbed three fire extinguishers and were able to put out the flames before the Seattle Fire Department arrived.

"Thankfully we had our window open" and could hear the fire, said Janice Lehmann. "It was very scary. We were just trying to do what we could."

She said the flames were about 10 feet high, and the business was only about 50 feet from their home.

David Liatos, who owns CPA Seattle, one of two Greenwood businesses that burned this morning, said he is grateful the Lehmanns acted so quickly to save his building. "It was really scary, and I'm deeply in their debt," said Liatos. He said the fire department has already posted a sign on his business that says the fire was arson, something confirmed by the fire department.

The second fire, called in at 4:11 a.m., burned the exterior of the Rosewood Guitar business.

Fire Department spokeswoman Dana Vander Houwen said today both fires were intentionally set by the same person, but she wouldn't elaborate.

She said damages at Liatos' business was estimated at $5,000, while Rosewood Guitar sustained about $20,000 in damages. In both cases, the fire burned just the outside of the buildings. She said combustible material was found by the fires, presumably left by the arsonist.

The cases have been turned over to the Seattle Police arson and bomb squad.

The Greenwood neighborhood has been plagued with fires in recent weeks, including one that destroyed four restaurants and caused $2 million damage on Oct. 23.

Vander Houwen said the fire department got a call at 3:43 a.m. today that there was a fire on the back porch of Liatos' accounting office. A short time later the fire was reported at the guitar store.

There were no injuries in any of the fires. Vander Houwen, too, commended the Lehmann's for their quick action. "It's important to be watching out for your neighbors," she said.

Janice Lehmann said it's scary living in a neighborhood that's been targeted by arsonists.

"It's creepy to think of an arsonist creeping around an alley at night," she said.

Liatos said it was clear the fire at his business was arson because the arsonist brought combustibles, including paper, to his business.

Liatos says he can't thank the Lehmanns enough for their quick action this morning.

"I said I'd do their taxes for free for life," he said. "It could have been so much worse."