Man charged with arson

By on Monday, July 3rd, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

MILTON-FREEWATER โ€“ Claudio Andrade Lara, 58, of Phillips Road in the Milton-Freewater area was arrested Sunday by the Umatilla County Sheriffโ€™s Office in connection with a fire on his property. He is charged with felony second-degree arson.

Sheriffโ€™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.

โ€œSubsequent investigation led to the arrest of Lara,โ€ Wolverton reported. โ€œHe was lodged at the Umatilla County Jail for Arson II without further incident.โ€

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.

โ€œApproximately two-thirds of the shop was burned in the fire, including the trusses,โ€ Cadwell said. โ€œWe were able to get in and save the structure, but I am unsure if it is salvageable.โ€

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..