Hundreds of ballots may have been burned after Vancouver ballot box arson: FBI investigating

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Authorities say a ballot box in Vancouver was burned down in an arson Monday morning – with hundreds of ballots possibly damaged in the fire.

Investigators believe the incident is related to two other arson incidents in Portland and Southwest Washington

KATU was on the scene shortly after 4 a.m. at the Fisher's Landing Transit Center in Vancouver where heavy smoke was billowing from a ballot box.

Our photographer Evan Bell captured the gray smoke rising steadily from the park-and-ride ballot drop box at Fisher's Landing Transit Center near Southeast 162nd Avenue.

Several police units were in the area and the ballot box was cordoned off with police tape as smoke continued.

Around 6 a.m., KATU captured footage of first responders throwing a pile of actively burning ballots onto the ground, which continued to smolder and smoke heavily even after the flames were extinguished.

The Clark County auditor told us the last ballot pick-up at that location was at 11 a.m. Saturday. There were hundreds of ballots inside at the time of the burning, and KATU was told that only a few might be able to be saved.

Voters who cast their ballots at this location after 11 a.m. Saturday must IMMEDIATELY contact the Auditor of Elections office to receive a new ballot.

A link to the Clark County Elections page with contact information for the Auditor's Office can be found HERE.

Voters in Washington can track the status of their ballots HERE.

Vancouver police released the following statement at 9 a.m.:

At approximately 4:00 a.m. this morning, Vancouver Police responded to an arson at a ballot box at 3510 SE 164th Ave. The ballot box was reportedly smoking and burning. Officers arrived and discovered a suspicious device next to the box. The ballot box smoked and burned. Members of the Metro Explosive Disposal Unit (MEDU) arrived, safely retrieved the device and the fire was extinguished. Detectives from the Vancouver Police Arson Team and Vancouver Fire Marshals also responded.

The FBI continues to investigate this incident.

The VPD added that the investigation will be fully turned over to the FBI and no further updates will be made.

The FBI issued the following statement regarding the arson at 11 a.m.:

The FBI is working with federal, state and local partners to actively investigate the two incidents in Vancouver, Washington and Portland, Oregon, in the early morning hours of Monday, October 28, and determine who is responsible is responsible.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the nearest FBI office, provide information at Tips.fbi.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324).

Just hours earlier, Portland police responded to an arson fire at a ballot drop box in Southeast Portland.

READ MORE:An incendiary device was set off at the ballot box in Southeast Portland, causing a fire

According to investigators, an incendiary device was ignited in the box, causing a fire.

The fire was extinguished and the unit evacuated and the PPB is investigating the incident. The status of the ballots in the burned box was not disclosed.

In a news release at midday, police said they believe the arson attacks in Portland and Vancouver on Monday morning were related.

In addition, a press officer reported that a fire suppression system failed at the Vancouver ballot box.

Investigators also linked the arsons to an Oct. 8 incident in which an incendiary device burned the outside of a ballot box in Vancouver.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:Vancouver ballot box visibly burned after police remove 'suspicious device'

The PPB provided a photo of a suspicious vehicle believed to be involved in the arsons.

Editor's note: The Clark County Auditor's Office originally told KATU that the last ballot collection was at 8 a.m. Sunday. They later corrected this to 11 a.m. Saturday.