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UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. - Nine families were displaced after someone intentionally set a fire inside an apartment in University Place, authorities say.
The backstory:
The fire broke out around 5 a.m. Friday in a third-story apartment at the Allegra Terrace Apartments along Bridgeport Way West.
Pierce County deputies responded quickly and identified which apartment the fire was coming from while evacuating nearby units.
Several families were evacuated, and a total of 10 units were impacted. The Red Cross is now working with the 21 adults and children in need of help.
Bodycam video from the Pierce County Sheriff's Office shows the response to an arson at a University Place apartment complex on April 24, 2026.
What they're saying:
Once the fire was put out by West Pierce Fire crews, an investigation revealed that the fire appeared to be intentionally set.
Accelerants were located inside the apartment unit where the fire originated, according to the Pierce County Sheriff's Office.
This remains an active investigation. Anyone with information about what happened or has surveillance video is asked to reach out to the sheriff's office at (253) 287-4455.
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The Source: Information in this story came from the Pierce County Sheriff's Office, West Pierce Fire, and the Red Cross.