Rescued man suspected of setting fire
Candice Boutilier<br | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 15 years, 8 months AGO
Bill Stevenson/Columbia Basin Herald<br> Two Moses Lake firefighters prepare to enter the building at 112.5 East Broadway Avenue to extinguish an apartment fire as one comes out.
MOSES LAKE – The 40-year-old Moses Lake man who was rescued from his burning apartment Monday allegedly started the fire himself, Moses Lake police reported Tuesday.
No charges are planned to be filed against him.
The Moses Lake Fire Department and police responded to an apartment fire on West Broadway Avenue in Moses Lake Monday afternoon. Firefighters forced entry into the barricaded unit.
The man reportedly locked the windows, stacked furniture against them and placed computer equipment and television sets in front of the entry door from the inside, police reported.
“A fire was located in a pile of clothing and a couch, which was quickly extinguished,” Moses Lake Sgt. Mike Williams reported. “The victim was located in the bathtub, with water running over his head.”
He was transported to Samaritan Healthcare and later airlifted to Deaconess Medical Center in Spokane for treatment of smoke inhalation.
“Detectives also located a note in which (the man) talked about how he wanted his possessions divided upon his death,” Williams reported.
The note was dated for Sunday.
“I contacted several family members and neighbors who said (the man) had been acting strangely for about 10 days,” he stated. “(He) constantly told family he just wanted to be alone, and they suspected he was deeply depressed.”
ARTICLES BY CANDICE BOUTILIER<BR
Miss Rodeo Washington: 33 years in the making
Supports George woman
MOSES LAKE — Katie Garfield is the first Grant County resident in 33 years to accept the crown for Miss Rodeo Washington.
"It was like something out of 'Wizard of Oz'"
Tornado destroys barn
MOSES LAKE — A tornado touched down on Road P near Moses Lake, picking up a barn and slamming it to the ground Wednesday night.
Quincy ranks high for high-tech business
Independent study released
QUINCY — A cost analysis study commissioned by the Port of Quincy determined Quincy is a competitive place for a high technology manufacturing businesses to locate.