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A video released by King 5 shows teenagers shooting fireworks from a truck on US Highway 97 in Washington state, allegedly starting a wildfire that killed one person, injured six firefighters, and destroyed 19 homes. The incident occurred early July 4th morning; Michael Yakimov, 18, faces charges including first-degree manslaughter and arson. Investigators found evidence linking the fire to a specific type of firework fired from Yakimov's vehicle. Authorities are also pursuing arrest warrants for five other individuals over 18 years old deemed complicit in the crime.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-16,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On July 4, Michael Yakimov, 18, and his friends allegedly started a wildfire by shooting fireworks from the back of their truck on US Highway 97 in central Washington state. Video footage shows them laughing and encouraging each other to shoot at passing vehicles. The fire, named the Chelan Hills Fire, quickly spread over 15.6 square miles, destroying more than 100 structures including 19 homes. It also resulted in one fatality—Robert Lister, a 69-year-old Orondo resident—and injuries to six firefighters. The Douglas County Sheriff identified a specific firework, called a Trooper Turret, as the likely cause of ignition near milepost 233 on Highway 97. Authorities are seeking arrest warrants for five additional individuals over the age of 18 who were allegedly complicit in these actions.
Written for “Teenagers Spark Wildfire Washington” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 13697 · logged 2026-09-16
Newly released video shows a group of laughing young people shooting fireworks at other vehicles along a highway — allegedly sparking a wildfire that destroyed 19 homes and killed a motorist.
uncertain
that → release → motorist
The video allegedly shows Michael Yakimov, 18, and friends firing off Roman candles from the bed of the truck along US Highway 97 in central Washington state shortly after midnight on July 4, according to court documents obtained by King 5.
uncertain
Yakimov → show → King
“Shoot it at them, shoot at it them!” someone yells in the clip while others can be heard cackling as explosions rattle around them.
asserted
explosions → shoot → them
“Don’t tell them who was shooting though,” another person said in the video.
asserted
person → tell → video
One of the shots allegedly started the Chelan Hills Fire, which erupted into a 15.6-square-mile inferno that killed one person and injured six firefighters.
uncertain
that → start → firefighters
The victim was identified earlier this month as Robert Lister, a 69-year-old Orondo resident, whose vehicle veered off a road and was engulfed in flames.
asserted
vehicle → identify → flames
The blaze also destroyed more than 100 structures, including 19 homes.
asserted
blaze → destroy → homes
Investigators found the firework, called a Trooper Turret, near where the fire is believed to have originated near milepost 233.
asserted
fire → find → milepost
It’s described as a cluster of Roman candles that can fire off 240 shots in just 46 seconds, according to court documents.
uncertain
that → describe → documents
Yakimov is charged with first-degree manslaughter, first-degree arson, first-degree malicious mischief and six counts of third-degree assault.
asserted
Yakimov → charge → assault
His bail has been set at $1 million and his arraignment is set for Sept. 17.
asserted
arraignment → set → Sept.
Douglas County Sheriff Tyler Caille told reporters earlier this month that authorities were seeking arrest warrants for five others, all over 18, calling them “complicit with the same crimes.”
“This is complete recklessness that led to billions of dollars of loss, loss of Mr. Lister’s life and, unfortunately, everybody involved in that is going to have to pay those consequences,” Caille said during the news conference.
asserted
Caille → tell → conference
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