The family of an 18-year-old man arrested over the deadly Chelan Hills Fire has rejected allegations that he started the blaze, while investigators continue to pursue five other people believed to have been involved.
Michael Yakimov, from Kent, Washington, was arrested on 2 September after Douglas County Sheriff’s Office detectives said they had developed probable cause linking him to the fire, which began shortly after midnight on 4 July.
Authorities allege Yakimov was part of a group firing illegal fireworks from the back of a white Dodge pick-up truck. One of the fireworks is alleged to have landed in dry roadside grass, igniting the fast-moving wildfire.
The Chelan Hills Fire tore through about 10,000 acres, destroyed more than 100 structures and left 69-year-old Robert Lister dead. Mr Lister’s vehicle reportedly left the road during the evacuation and was consumed by the flames.
Yakimov appeared before a judge on Thursday, where bail was set at $1 million. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said he had been booked on allegations including first-degree manslaughter, first-degree arson, first-degree malicious mischief and six counts of third-degree assault. ([douglascountysheriff.org](https://www.douglascountysheriff.org/m/newsflash/home/detail/227))
Family disputes allegations against Chelan Hills Fire suspect
Speaking after the court appearance, Yakimov’s mother and younger brother told Fox 13 Seattle that they did not believe he was responsible for starting the fire. They also said anyone else involved should be held accountable.
“Michael was sort of a father figure to me and somebody important in my life,” his younger brother Moses said, describing the impact of having the teenager behind bars.
A friend of the family, Racheal, said Yakimov had always been supportive of his siblings and that the community was praying for him. Moses also said he believed his brother would soon be released because “he’s not the one that did it”.
The sheriff’s office says investigators are seeking five additional suspects, all believed to be adults living elsewhere in western Washington. They have been contacted over their potential involvement but had not been arrested by Thursday, according to local reports. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/1c3f12b9ab0a2c2e1c8baede36f90db9))
Investigators have reviewed surveillance footage and other evidence as part of the inquiry. A combined $30,000 reward had previously been offered by Douglas County and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of those responsible for igniting the fire. ([douglascountysheriff.org](https://douglascountysheriff.org/m/newsflash/home/detail/221))
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said detectives travelled to Kent to arrest Yakimov and that the arrest took place without incident. The investigation remains ongoing.
