Fire set by transient causes some $20,000 in damage

COEUR d’ALENE — A transient was arrested after admitting he set a fire that caused an estimated $20,000 in damage early Saturday, police said.

Andrew McLean Wanczak, 36, was being held in the Kootenai County jail where he was charged with first-degree arson.

According to a press release, a Coeur d Alene Police Department officer was on patrol about 4:30 a.m. when he noticed flames more than 50 feet high coming from behind the Dragon House, 512 East Appleway Avenue. 

When the officer pulled into the parking lot, he found the suspect “standing in the parking lot staring at the flames.

“Wanczak told the officer he set the fire because he was cold,” the release said.

The fire caused damage to landscaping/fencing of the Best Western Coeur d Alene Inn, three vehicles of hotel guests, overhead wires for phone and cable that caused interruption to the hotel and a small amount of flame damage to an adjacent building. 

The Coeur d Alene Fire Department put out the fire and prevented further damage, the release said.

Investigators estimated the fire caused more than $20,000 in damage.