Man charged with arson
By Terry Murry on Monday, July 3rd, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
MILTON-FREEWATER – Claudio Andrade Lara, 58, of Phillips Road in the Milton-Freewater area was arrested Sunday by the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office in connection with a fire on his property. He is charged with felony second-degree arson.
Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a structure fire Sunday afternoon at the residence at 51107 Phillips Road at the request of the Milton-Freewater Rural Fire Department. The dispatch occurred at about 2:30 p.m. UCSO Capt. Paul Wolverton reports that a detached shop on the property was fully engulfed in flames.
Wolverton said Lara was identified as a person of interest in the investigation of the fire.
“Subsequent investigation led to the arrest of Lara,” Wolverton reported. “He was lodged at the Umatilla County Jail for Arson II without further incident.”
Milton-Freewater Rural Fire Department Operations Chief Brandon Cadwell released further details on the fire Monday stating the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
“Approximately two-thirds of the shop was burned in the fire, including the trusses,” Cadwell said. “We were able to get in and save the structure, but I am unsure if it is salvageable.”
Cadwell said fortunately, thanks to a quick response from both rural fire and city of Milton-Freewater the fire was contained to just the shop with no injuries..
