The Onalaska man arrested Thursday for allegedly fleeing the scene of the Peppertree West Motor Inn fire, trying to run onto Interstate 5 and throwing a lit cigarette at a Centralia police officer was charged Friday afternoon with first-degree arson and third-degree assault.
His bail was set at $100,000. Arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, April 13.
Firefighters with the Riverside Fire Authority, the Chehalis Fire Department, Lewis County Fire District 5, Lewis County Fire District 6 and crews from Thurston County were dispatched to the structure fire in the 1200 block of Alder Street just before 6:25 p.m. on April 6 after three people separately reported black, billowing smoke coming from the inn, according to Chehalis Fire Chief Tedd Hendershot.
Crews cleared the scene just before 9:10 p.m. on Thursday.
While the cause of the fire was still under investigation on Friday, firefighters have reportedly confirmed the fire started in the room Todd Bergfalk, 52, was staying in at the time.
Bergfalk and another man were reportedly sitting on the sidewalk when officers with the Centralia Police Department arrived at the motel to aid firefighters, according to court documents.
The other man reportedly told officers, “Mr. Bergfalk had set his room on fire and then attempted to run onto Interstate 5 to commit suicide,” according to documents filed in Lewis County Superior Court on Friday.
When questioned further, the man told officers he had run to the side of the motel after his wife told him there was a fire and saw flames coming out of Bergfalk’s room.
The man said “the carpet was fully engulfed in flames and Mr. Bergfalk was just standing in the middle of it,” according to court documents.
Surveillance footage reportedly confirmed the man’s account and captured Bergfalk “calmly” walking out of the room.
The officer who reviewed the footage noted Bergfalk, “Did not attempt to put the fire out and did not flag anyone down.” Eventually, the officer noted, Bergfalk “lit a cigarette while watching the motel burn while other tenants ran around and tried to get help.”
Bergfalk is accused of throwing that lit cigarette at an officer who contacted him at the scene of the fire on Thursday.
It was unknown Monday exactly how many Peppertree residents were displaced by the fire. The American Red Cross was dispatched to provide aid, according to Chehalis Fire, though community members have reported displaced tenants instead received aid from the Salvation Army.
One motel occupant, a 61-year-old woman, reported difficulty breathing after escaping the fire and was treated for smoke inhalation. No other injuries were reported.
