A transient man who said he was trying to cook dinner allegedly started a fire in a former Vancouver electric motor repair shop.
Rhett J. Smith, 28, appeared Monday in Clark County Superior Court to face allegations of first-degree reckless burning and second-degree burglary in connection with the Saturday incident.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Smith entered Pacific Electric at 1009 W. 13th St. by removing the screws from a padlocked door. He then started a fire in a metal barrel inside the building.
Witnesses called 911 shortly after 8 p.m. to say they saw flames inside the building. Police responded and saw smoke coming from the building and noticed the lock on the front door had been removed, the affidavit said.
Police reportedly spotted Smith inside and yelled at him to leave the building. He refused, however, forcing police to go inside and grab him, according to court documents.
Smith told police he started the fire in a burn barrel to cook some food, adding that the fire got bigger than he anticipated, court records said.
Police contacted the building’s owner, Ron Skipworth, who reportedly said Smith did not have permission to be inside. Building caretaker Raymond Tilton told police the building had been secured that morning, the affidavit said. The building sustained heavy smoke damage, police said.
Judge Derek Vanderwood set Smith’s bail at $5,000, court records show. Smith remained in custody Tuesday evening, according to the Clark County Jail roster. He will be arraigned Friday.
