Suspect in fire familiar to authorities
Here's a link to rough video of the fire by Ronald Bond of the Shoshone News-Press.
http://www.youtube.com/user/ShoshoneNewsPress#p/u/0/In-j_tiwWRY
By NICOLE NOLAN
Hagadone News Network
KELLOGG – An early morning fire ravaged the interior of the Shoshone News-Press office in Kellogg, while the suspected arsonist, 21-year-old Kellogg resident Doug Burmeister, sits in Shoshone County jail.
According to Kellogg Police Chief David Wuolle, Burmeister was arrested in uptown Kellogg on charges of driving under the influence. Statements collected by law enforcement have also led them to probable cause that Burmeister may have started the News-Press office fire.
Burmeister currently faces charges of first-degree arson, resisting and obstructing an officer, possession of paraphernalia and driving under the influence.
“(Burmeister’s) had some dealings with law enforcement,” Wuolle said. “He was no stranger to us.”
According to Idaho Title 18, Chapter 8, Article 802 the penalty for first-degree arson is a sentence of up to 25 years within the Idaho Department of Corrections and a fine of up to $100,000.
“We got information from the public that helped us determine the guy we now have in custody as the arsonist,” Wuolle said.
The fire was concentrated on the southwest corner of the building, causing extensive damage and a portion of the roof to cave. There is heavy smoke and water damage throughout the building, but there are reports that the archives, which date back to the early 1900s, may be saved. More recent editions of the News-Press that hadn’t yet been bound may not prove so lucky.
Shoshone County Fire Protection District II, the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office and the Kellogg Police Department responded to the initial call, made by an individual who spotted the fire, at approximately 5:35 a.m.
A clock hanging in the front office of the News-Press building was stopped at 5:37 a.m. during the fire.
Shoshone County Fire Protection District II Fire Chief Dale Costa said the age of the building did not hamper efforts to extinguish the early morning flames.
Fire crews entered the building through the front and back doors furthest from the flames so as not to create a back draft. Thin office partitions in the back office caused the fire to ignite multiple times after initial flames were extinguished and firefighters went through opening office doors.
The recent addition of a sloped roof constructed over the original roof also created difficulties for fire crews according to Costa, as smoke and flame took over the space containing spray insulation. The sloped space made it difficult for firefighters to secure the area.
Idaho State Fire Marshal Mark Aamodt arrived on scene hours later for the arson investigation.
“We’re going to have a paper tomorrow, and it’ll be the best paper in North Idaho,” said Dan Drewry, News-Press publisher. “It just seemed unreal. I’ve been here since 1991, and now it’s on fire.”
Drewry explained that the first thoughts through his mind were that, at that hour of the morning, there would be no staff in the office. “That’s the main thing.”
Drewry and the News-Press staff would like to thank the dedicated volunteers of Shoshone Fire Protection District II, in particular Costa.
“I really appreciate the quick action by the Kellogg Police Department for catching the alleged perpetrator,” Drewry said. “And we really appreciate the generosity and community spirit of North Idaho College in giving us space dring an emergency.”
Duane B. Hagadone, owner of the Hagadone newspaper chain that includes the News-Press, expressed relief today that nobody was injured.
“Buildings, we can replace,” Hagadone said. “I’d also like to express my deepest appreciation to all those who responded so efficiently and professionally to the fire. They did a remarkable job from everything I’ve been told.”
Editor’s Note: The breaking story of the News-Press office was first seen on www.shoshonenewspress.com. Check back with us for more details as the investigation and recovery efforts continue.