Teenager arrested and 5 others sought in deadly July 4 fire in Washington state

EAST WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) — An 18-year-old in Washington state has been arrested for the investigation of manslaughter and arson in connection with a deadly July 4 fire, a county sheriff said Thursday.

The teen from Kent was among a group of people setting off illegal fireworks from the back of a truck when one landed in roadside brush, igniting the fast-moving blaze, Douglas County Sheriff Tyler Caille said. He said authorities were also seeking arrest warrants for five others.

The Chelan Hills Fire burned roughly 15.6 square miles (40.4 square kilometers), destroyed more than 100 structures and left one person dead, he said.

The victim was identified earlier this week as Robert Lister, a 69-year-old Orondo resident, whose vehicle had slid off the road and was consumed by the flames.

Caille urged the others accused of launching illegal fireworks to turn themselves in, or “we will come find you.” He said all are over 18 and are “complicit with the same crimes.”