Man accused of starting fire on Pacific Avenue still at large, Olympia police say

Olympia police are looking for an arson suspect.

About 3 p.m. Aug. 23, a 911 caller reported that they saw a man throw some sort of device that exploded in a grassy area in the 3200 block of Pacific Avenue Southeast.

The “device,” which turned out to be a can, burned a field between an RV dealership and a gasoline station in the area, police Lt. Paul Lower said.

The can did show signs that something had exploded inside of it, Lower said.

Police and fire crews responded to the blaze and it was extinguished, he said. It burned an area estimated at 200 feet in diameter and came close to the sidewalk, Lower said.

During the investigation, police talked to people and business owners in the area.

They described a man who emerged from the woods, tossed the can over a fence and then disappeared back into the woods. He is believed to be an adult man, who was last seen with a red backpack and wearing what was described as an “anime mask.”

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Olympia police at 360-753-8300.

This story was originally published September 2, 2025 at 9:49 AM.