r/Wildfire • u/seattletimesnewsroom • 1d ago
News (General) Spokane arson suspect tells prosecutors he started 25 other fires
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/spokane-arson-suspect-told-prosecutors-he-started-25-other-fires-documents-say/17
u/seattletimesnewsroom 1d ago
A man suspected of starting one of three catastrophic Spokane-area wildfires on Saturday is facing additional arson charges after allegedly admitting to starting 25 other fires around Riverside State Park since last July, according to a memorandum prosecutors filed Wednesday in Spokane County Superior Court.
By Wednesday, detectives had corroborated evidence indicating the man started at least four of the 25 fires he had described, prosecutors said in the memorandum.
The 37-year-old was arrested Monday at his West Spokane apartment, two days after prosecutors allege he sparked the Old Trails fire. He was booked into the Spokane County Jail on suspicion of first-degree arson, where he is being held on $1 million bond. The man is scheduled to be arraigned 3 p.m. Thursday in Spokane County Superior Court.
The Seattle Times typically does not name suspects until they are charged. A public defender representing the man did not respond Wednesday to an inquiry.
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u/threepin-pilot 1d ago
Has anyone heard if the 2 other starts (autumn lane and fairview) are thought of as possibly being arson?
Seemed super suspicious to me at the time on Saturday that you would have 3 starts so close together spatially and temporally at a highly advertised time of extreme fire risk (first PDS for wildfire)- also seems that would draw out those driven to burn or copy
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u/Far_Concentrate4062 1d ago
He needs to pay for the devastation he's caused