Man gets 60 days in jail for setting fire to RV in Vancouver

A man who set fire to a motor home parked in the Image neighborhood following an argument with his girlfriend was sentenced Thursday to 60 days in jail but was given credit for time served, court records show.

Robert John Block, 37, pleaded guilty in Clark County Superior Court to first-degree reckless burning. He had told Vancouver police at the time of the incident that he was in the midst of a mental health crisis.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, on March 2, Block set fire to an RV parked in an abandoned lot near Northeast 137th Avenue and Northeast 49th Street. Firefighters and police were called to the area about 1:30 p.m. and arrived to find the motor home engulfed in flames.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze. No one was injured.

A witness told police that Block left the witness’ house, which is near the RV, about 10 minutes before firefighters arrived. The witness also said that Block left the house immediately after an argument with his former girlfriend, the affidavit states.

Fire investigators determined that the blaze had been set intentionally with some kind of igniting fluid on the RV’s camp stove. All of the doors and windows were locked when they arrived, leading them to believe the fire was started by someone with access, court records say.

Block later admitted to starting the fire, according to court documents.