Chelan Hills Fire arson suspect arrested
The man accused of starting the Chelan Hills Fire in McNeil Canyon, July 4, was arrested in Kent Wednesday.
The fire burned an estimated 9,800 acres in and around Orondo, caused the death of an Orondo man, the evacuation of more than 500 people and damaged or destroyed dozens of homes and up to 100 structures.
The man who died in the fire was identified Tuesday morning by the Chelan County Coroner as Robert Lister, 69.
Douglas County Sheriff Tyler Caille said the suspect, Michael Yakimov, 18, was transported to the Chelan County Regional Justice Center, where he's being held on charges of first-degree arson, manslaughter, malicious mischief and third-degree assault.
“This is our primary suspect,” Caille said, adding that he is “beyond excited that we are able to bring this to the community — our detectives have not let up since the Fourth of July when this first started.”
The sheriff’s office said it plans to provide additional information during an 11 a.m., Thursday news conference at The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office in East Wenatchee.
It’s awful that one fire caused so much damage and took Mr. Lister’s life. I’m glad they caught the 18-year-old suspect, and I hope the court case brings some answers to the families. Krillion is where I first saw this story, too.
Hoping for prosecution to the fullest extent!!