Whatcom County man accused of burning sage that sparked Maple Falls house fire
A Whatcom County man is accused of igniting a bundle of sage that sparked a devastating house fire.
Police say Christopher Lewis, 44, lit the sage then fell asleep near a residence in the 8300 block of Golden Valley Boulevard in Maple Falls.
A man who survived the fire and was taken to St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham told police he saw the bundle and had put it out. However, Lewis re-lit the sage and stuck back on the wall before going to sleep. The man was later awoken by a family member telling him the house was on fire, Deb Slater with the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office said.
The incident occurred around 8:50 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17. When a fire crew from District 14 arrived, they found the residence fully engulfed. No injuries were reported other than the one victim who was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, according to District 14 Chief Jerry Debruin.
Lewis was arrested for first-degree reckless burning.
