Man who ‘wanted to light something on fire’ suspected of arson at Lighthouse Mission
A man reportedly told police “he wanted to light something on fire” Monday morning, June 8, after he allegedly set a fire inside the Lighthouse Mission in Bellingham, causing an estimated $3,000 in damage.
Bellingham police booked Christopher Cary Blanchard, 37, into Whatcom County Jail on suspicion of first-degree arson and second-degree malicious mischief, and jail records show he’s being held in lieu of $75,000 bail.
Officers were called to the Lighthouse Mission in the 900 block of West Holly Street after an employee reported someone had started a fire inside the building, Lt. Claudia Murphy told The Bellingham Herald in an email.
Officers spoke to Blanchard, who admitted to starting the fire and said he wanted to burn the building down, Murphy said.
The fire was started at a time when there were 40 people in inside, Murphy said, and it caused approximately $3,000 damage to mattresses, a bunk bed, flooring and the wall.
This story was originally published June 10, 2020 at 10:28 AM.
