By Michael Harthorne / Komonews.com

SEATTLE — Local anarchists have claimed responsibility for the fire that destroyed an under-construction townhouse last week in the Central District, stating they attacked the building in order to reject the status quo and shed the “subjugated subjectivity” forced on them by the government.

Flames were visible from 10 blocks away when the Seattle Fire Department was called to a construction site near South Norman Street and 24th Avenue South around 12:30 a.m. Feb. 26.

According to the Fire Department, the fire did an estimated $30,000 in damage to the three-story townhouse and caused the evacuation of a nearby home when embers landed on its roof.

The Fire Department later determined the fire had been intentionally set, and the Seattle Police Department’s Arson Bomb Squad took over the investigation.

On March 3, someone posted to the Puget Sound Anarchists website, taking credit for the fire.

“Just before midnight, Monday Feb. 25, we strolled over to the townhouses under construction on 24th and Norman in the Central District,” the post states. “After slipping inside, we set one ablaze. Oh what ease! Oh what fun!”

According to the post, the townhouse was intended to be a sustainable development, which the poster rejects as a myth that furthers gentrification and ecological destruction.

The post ends with a call to action to other anarchists.

“Now is the time to attack,” states the post. “Enemies abound. Weapons are everywhere.”

The Seattle Police Department is continuing to investigate the fire and had no comments on possible anarchist involvement at this time.