Kalispell man pleads guilty to negligent arson

Tools

By The Associated Press

Story Published: Jul 2, 2009 at 10:39 PM MDT

Story Updated: Jul 2, 2009 at 10:39 PM MDT

KALISPELL - A Kalispell man has pleaded guilty to negligent arson for a fire that destroyed several units in an apartment building.

David Bernach was accused of using gasoline to ignite wood in his fireplace on Nov. 21 after several previous attempts to get the fire started with other methods failed. Some of the gas spilled out of the fireplace and spread flames into the apartment. The blaze destroyed 10 units in the building.

No one was injured, except Bernach, who suffered minor burns to his face and hands while trying to smother the fire with a comforter. Bernach denied the arson charge in December, but struck a plea deal that calls for a 10-year suspended sentence and restitution.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KULR-8 News, Sports, Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

Your Weather Authority

Icon
Current Temp 24.0 °F
Fair
Wind : Southwest at
12.7 mph
Humidity : 77 %
Pressure : 30.24 in
More Weather

State Farm Sky Cam

More Weather

AP Video

On Demand

Stock Quotes
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Cast Your Vote

School District 2 trustees plan to travel to California and New York to continue the interview process in the superintendent search. Do you agree or disagree with this use of funds?

  • Agree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion

Links We Like