The Hoquiam Police Department says that a 60-year-old man who had rented the hotel room set the mattress on fire and left the scene, later to be arrested for the crime.

Here is more from Sgt. Salstrom, HPD 

On August 18, 2018, Hoquiam fire units responded to a report of a fire at a motel in the 2400 block of Aberdeen Avenue, Hoquiam officers responded as well.

When officers arrived they saw a large amount of smoke coming from one of the lower floor rooms.  In front of the room on the ground they saw a mattress and box springs still smoldering.  A check of the room revealed no one was inside.  There was very little damage other than smoke damage to the room.

A witness told officers the male subject who had rented the room had left on his bicycle towards Simpson Avenue.  The witness stated within a few minutes he heard what sounded like a smoke alarm going off in the room.  He stated he went to the window of the room and saw what looked like a bright glow inside the room.  He pounded on the door and received no response, he grabbed a motel fire extinguisher and kicked open the door.  Once inside he found the bed was on fire and extinguished it.

The scene was investigated by a trained Arson/Fire Investigator from the Hoquiam Police Department.

Officers were able to determine a 60 year-old Hoquiam had rented the room and an attempt to locate was broadcast.  A couple of hours later the man was located in Aberdeen.  The suspect was taken into custody and later booked into the Grays Harbor County Jail for Arson in the 1^st Degree.

The motel was entirely booked up at the time of this incident but there weren’t any injuries to anyone staying there thanks to the quick actions of one of the guests staying there.

The case is still under investigation.  Anyone with information are asked to contact Det. Grossi at 360-532-0892 x295 or Det. Pearson at 360-532-0892 x102.