The 18-year-old man accused of starting the deadly Chelan Hills wildfire in July pleaded not guilty to charges of manslaughter, arson,
Three additional suspects accused in connection with the deadly Chelan Hills wildfire were arrested Thursday, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office said it worked with the U.S. Marshals Service Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force to apprehend 18-year-old Valentin Tabunscic of Tacoma, 19-year-old Mark Okhrimchik of University Place and 19-year-old Julian Mikityuk of Pacific.
Authorities had previously announced the arrest of Michael Yakimov, 18, who has been charged with first-degree manslaughter, arson, malicious mischief, and six counts of third-degree assault, one for each firefighter injured while responding to the fire.
Yakimov pleaded not guilty to all nine charges during a second court appearance Thursday. He also faces a deadly weapon enhancement on each charge.
Earlier this week, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office released video of the incident that allegedly started the wildfire on July 4.
According to sheriff’s office detectives, multiple people allegedly fired Roman candles from a moving truck while Douglas County was under a burn ban prohibiting fireworks and open burning. Investigators said the fireworks ignited dry grass along the roadway, sparking the Chelan Hills Fire.
Court documents state Yakimov is seen shooting illegal fireworks from the bed of a white truck. Others can be seen in the video as fireworks are shot toward a passing car, while someone is heard yelling, “Shoot at them! Shoot at them!”
One of the fireworks is believed to have landed in dry grass and started the fire, investigators said.
Yakimov was arrested Sept. 2 and initially held in Douglas County on $1 million bail.
The wildfire killed Robert Lister, 69, as he tried to escape the flames in his vehicle. The sheriff’s office now says the fire injured six firefighters, destroyed more than 100 structures, burned more than 10,000 acres and caused more than $6 million in losses and property damage.
“This is the type of fire that will live with us for the rest of our lives,” Douglas County Sheriff Tyler Caille said previously.
Caille said the three latest arrests were an important step toward justice for the person killed, injured firefighters and the community changed by the fire.
Additional information about the defendants, charges and arrests will be released later, the sheriff’s office said.
