Shoshone News-Press office destroyed by fire

KELLOGG - An early morning fire Thursday ravaged the interior of the Shoshone News-Press office in Kellogg, meanwhile the suspected arsonist sits in Shoshone County jail.

Kellogg Police Chief David Wuolle said Doug 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, a Kellogg resident, may have started the News-Press office fire.

Burmeister, 21, 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."

The penalty for first-degree arson in Idaho is a sentence of up to 25 years in prison 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 in. There was heavy smoke and water damage throughout the building, but there were 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 by an individual who spotted the fire about 5:35 a.m.

A clock hanging in the front office of the News-Press building was stopped at 5:37 a.m.

Shoshone County Fire Protection District II Fire Chief Dale Costa said the age of the building did not hamper efforts to extinguish the flames.

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, Costa said, 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 said his first thoughts were that, at that hour of the morning, there would be no staff in the office. "That's the main thing."

North Idaho College provided work space for News-Press staff Thursday.

Duane B. Hagadone, owner of the Hagadone newspaper chain that includes the News-Press, expressed relief 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."