By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – A 27-year-old Chehalis man is jailed after he allegedly used gasoline to set fire to his apartment last night attempting to kill himself or possibly trying to burn up his wife, according to police.
The fire was small but the building on the 100 block of North Market Boulevard was evacuated and six people who live there had to find other places to stay last night, according to the Chehalis Fire Department.
Fire and police were called about 9:10 p.m. found smoke coming from the brick building and the suspect laying face down by the dumpster behind it, according to police.
Responders were told he wanted to kill himself, appeared extremely intoxicated and smelled of gasoline, Chehalis Police Department Deputy Chief Randy Kaut said.
A gas can was found in his first floor apartment; the oven and stove were turned on, Kaut said.
It’s not clear how he got outside, according to Kaut. Police were told there had been an argument at the apartment earlier, according to Kaut.
“He was trying to harm himself, or possibly burn up the woman who lives there,” Kaut said.
Fire Capt. Kevin Curfman said residents were working on extinguishing the flames when the fire department arrived.
The only person injured was the man’s 32-year-old wife who had cuts on her hands from retrieving a fire extinguisher, according to Curfman.
The fire damage was limited to a wall and carpeting in the couple’s living room, Curfman said.
Chase N. Ettner, 27, was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital to be checked out and then booked into the Lewis County Jail for arson, according to police.
“We’re very lucky it wasn’t worse than what it was,” Kaut said.