Teen Arrested After Illegal Fireworks Spark Fatal July 4 Blaze in Washington
An 18-year-old from Kent was taken into custody for manslaughter and arson after a fireworks mishap ignited the Chelan Hills Fire, which killed one person.
Douglas County Sheriff Tyler Caille confirmed that an 18-year-old resident of Kent has been arrested on manslaughter and arson charges after a July 4 fireworks display went wrong. The group had set off illegal fireworks from the back of a truck, and one projectile ignited dry brush along a highway, leading to the Chelan Hills Fire. The wildfire spread across roughly 15.6 square miles, razing more than 100 buildings.
The only fatality was 69-year-old Robert Lister of Orondo, whose vehicle slid off the road and was consumed by the flames. Sheriff Caille said five other participants, all adults, are wanted and urged them to turn themselves in, warning that authorities will locate them otherwise. The incident highlights the dangers of unlawful fireworks use in rural areas.
