(Council Bluffs) The State Fire Marshall’s Office released an investigation connected with two fires at the Super 8 Motel in Walnut on July 18 and July 19.
Ron Humphrey, Special Agent with the Arson and Explosives Bureau, tells KSOM/KS95 News, the Walnut Fire Department and several area fire departments responded to two significant fire events at this motel.
Humphrey says the cause of the first fire event that occurred on Saturday, July 18th, 2020, at approximately 12:20 p.m., caused severe fire damage to the occupied two-story motel structure located at 2109 Antique City Drive in Walnut, has been classified as accidental.
Humphrey says the fire originated in the northwest second-floor attic space between rooms 223 and 219. Based upon his fire scene examination, witness statements, ignition sources, and the electrical engineer’s comments stating an electrical conductor in the attic space near the area of origin may be the potential ignition source causing this fire damage; it was determined the initial point of origin of this fire.,
Humphrey says the cause of the second fire that occurred on Sunday, July 19th, 2020, at approximately 9:49 p.m. has been determined to be incendiary in nature and will be classified as arson.
Humphrey says, in his opinion, this fire occurred when an unknown person(s) ignited the combustible bedding material on the right or east bed located on the second floor in room 216. The only accidental ignition source within the area of origin would be an electrical receptacle dual-outlet located on the north wall between the two beds; however, based on the burn patterns, location of the point of origin in this room, and the de-energized electrical wiring in this area of the structure; electrical activity is not the cause.
Humphrey says pending additional information that would change these fire events, this case should be considered closed.
