SPOKANE, Wash. — A man accused of setting multiple fires around Spokane this week will stay in jail after a judge expressed concerns about public safety and the suspect’s mental capacity.
Chad Alin Horne is accused of setting six fires that began Tuesday morning and continued through the week. The fires targeted various locations including an electric vehicle charging station near Washington State University’s Spokane campus, My Fresh Basket in Kendall Yards and a house near Third Avenue and Spokane Street.
No injuries were reported in any of the fires.
Police launched an intensive search after receiving tips that Horne was spotted near a Walmart in Spokane Valley.
“Detectives were working and very dedicated on piecing together the information they had, going through video,” said Officer Daniel Strassenberg of the Spokane Police Department.
Believing Horne was on foot, police conducted the search from bicycles and drones.
“We were fairly certain that he didn’t have access to a vehicle. It was pretty logical thinking that he was probably still in the area on foot. They just flooded the area on the bikes hoping to find him,” Strassenberg said.
The timing of the fires raised particular concern among law enforcement given fire danger in the region.
“With the current weather conditions, and as dangerous as it is, and with the fires we’ve had over the past couple of days, clearly it was a public safety concern,” Strassenberg said.
During Horne’s first court appearance, Commissioner Anthony Rugel noted the suspect’s criminal history and the escalation in charges.
“Probably the most important issue is that he does have a reckless burning in the first-degree, which is a felony. Now he has six counts of arson in the second-degree,” Rugel said.
Court records show Horne was previously arrested in 2024 and pleaded guilty to reckless burning, receiving a two-month jail sentence.
At his court hearing, Horne acknowledged his actions, saying he was not proud of what happened.
He is being held in Spokane County Jail on a $500,000 bond.
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