Episode 1: Everett Community College Arson

On February 16, 1987, Warren Burns, a seasoned firefighter, was a newly appointed fire investigator on duty in Everett, Washington when a fire was reported at Everett Community College, where Burns himself had studied Fire Science. On his way to the scene, he heard the unthinkable over the radio, a firefighter had been separated from his team and was trapped inside the burning Library. The firefighter was Gary Parks, a close personal friend of Burns’. Gary Parks died that night in the line of duty and when the fire was declared arson, Burns’ vowed to never give up on holding the arsonist accountable for the death of his friend. Immediately, there were three main suspects that held the focus of investigators. But Burns along with the Parks family would endure more than three decades of waiting before the arsonist was sentenced in Gary Parks’ murder. This  to Crime to Burn. 

Crime to Burn is a true crime podcast focused on that intersection where true crime meets arson and criminal negligence. April is a licensed Fire Protection Engineer with 20 years of industry experience and a former firefighter. Jenny is a true crime buff and spent months talking April into taking on this project. Plus, Jenny keeps April from going too deep into the weeds on the science. No boring college science lectures here, it's all true crime, fire, and expert opinions. 

Special thanks to Warren Burns, Mike McGill, and Dave Statter

Show sources:

The majority of this Episode is from an interview with former Fire Investigator, Warren Burns. 

Other sources:

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/02/16/Library-fire-kills-firefighter-hurts-3-others/7739540450000/

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT03m_Icht0

 

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/solved-arsonist-behind-1987-firefighters-death-was-only-12/

 

https://www.firefighterclosecalls.com/lodd-history-25-years-later-firefighters-death-in-arson-weighs-on-family-comrades/

 

https://www.firehouse.com/safety-health/video/21216027/man-admits-to-starting-1987-fire-that-killed-wa-firefighter

 

https://myeverettnews.com/2021/05/13/judge-sentences-elmer-nash-jr-to-ten-years-in-death-of-everett-firefighter-gary-parks/

 

https://coffeeordie.com/everett-fire-1987/