Man Charged With Arson In Motel 6 Fire That Caused $500,000 ‘Or More’ In Damages

A Washington man is facing charges for allegedly starting a fire at a motel that caused $500,000 in damages, authorities said.

The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to assist the Spokane Valley Fire Department with a fire reported at the Motel 6 at 1919 N. Hutchinson Road in Spokane Valley. As deputies assisted with evacuations and crowd control, a witness pointed out a possible suspect, who was detained while deputies and fire officials investigated.

No one was seriously injured in the blaze, though at least two renters were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation, according to the sheriff’s office.

Damages to the motel were estimated at $500,000 or more.

The suspect, identified as 35-year-old Christopher M. Welch, allegedly told investigators that someone was trying to kill him and would not let him leave his room. Through the course of the interview, Welch’s story was “inconsistent and hard to follow,” the sheriff’s office said.

Welch denied setting the fire, but continued to state that he was afraid for his life, and that people who would not allow him to leave the motel had threatened to kill him.

Witnesses identified Welch as the person staying in the room where the fire was believed to have originated. A witness also reported seeing him throw a green Coleman propane torch out the window of his second-floor room before he jumped from the same window.

Working with fire investigators, the sheriff’s office developed probably cause to arrest Welch on 12 counts of first-degree arson and one count of first-degree malicious mischief.

Welch was booked into the Spokane County Jail and his total bond was initially set at $50,000. At a hearing in Superior Court on Tuesday, Welch was given additional “unrelated” charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, assault, and strangulation (domestic violence), officials said. Welch’s total bond was increased to $125,000.