An 18-year-old Kent man faces several potential charges for allegedly setting off fireworks that started the Chelan Hills Fire in July and killed a man.
Detectives from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office in East Wenatchee traveled to Kent Sept. 2 to arrest Michael Yakimov, according to a press release from the department. He was arrested for investigation of first-degree manslaughter, first-degree arson, first-degree malicious mischief and six counts of third-degree assault.
Detectives transported Yakimov to the Chelan County Jail, where he remained in custody as of Sept. 3, according to jail records. Bail was set Sept. 3 at $1 million, according to The Wenatchee World.
Yakimov is the primary suspect for starting the July 4 fire, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Robert M. Lister, a 69-year-old resident of Orondo, died in the fire. The fire resulted in significant loss, widespread disruption, and long-term impacts to residents throughout the Chelan Hills and McNeil Canyon areas.
At a Sheriff’s Office press conference Sept. 3, Sheriff Tyler Caille said five more people are expected to face similar allegations to Yakimov, according to lakechelanmirror.com.
Reporters asked Caille if Yakimov had been driving the white Dodge truck investigators linked to the July 4 fire or was the person firing fireworks from its bed and Caille replied that he was the person holding the fireworks, riding in the back of the truck, according to the Lake Chelan Mirror.
Investigators say video evidence reportedly shows Yakimov was firing illegal aerial fireworks as two vehicles traveled north on U.S. Highway 97 shortly after midnight July 4, according to the Lake Chelan Mirror. Caille said investigators obtained video showing Yakimov in the truck bed firing fireworks at another vehicle and ultimately toward dry grass along the highway, igniting the Chelan Hills Fire.
Caille said five other people were in the truck and detectives expect to arrest all of them, who are each over the age of 18, according to the article. The six counts of third-degree assault against the Kent man are for the injuries to six firefighters.
An eyewitness account and surveillance footage from businesses throughout the Chelan area, license-plate reader cameras and cellphone evidence helped lead to the arrest of the Kent man, according to the Lake Chelan Mirror. The evidence took detectives to King, Pierce and Thurston counties looking for suspects.
