The suspects, who called authorities to confess, are being charged with second-degree arson, second-degree burglary, and first-degree malicious mischief. Two of the three are also being charged with second-degree burglary and second-degree attempted arson for a failed effort at the library on July 20 using paint thinner. All three are all sophomores at the Lewis and Clark High School, and “had had some trouble at [Sacajawea] when they were students there and were angry at the school,” Spokane Fire Chief Bobby Williams told NBC-TV affiliate KHQ. He added that the juveniles gave “no indication” why they had targeted the library.
Although the blaze was quickly extinguished, the school did not reopen until September 11. Early estimates set the damage at $300,000.
“I don’t know why anyone would want to get in the way of us doing good things for kids,” Sacajawea school librarian Dinah Coble said in the September 9 Spokane Spokesman-Review hours after the fire was extinguished. School Principal Paula Ronhaar, who was visibly shaken, assured staff members who gathered at the building the day of the fire that “each of you are part of a big family, and we will get through this together.”
Within three days of the blaze, several local organizations were conducting book drives to replace the charred collection. School officials said age-appropriate books that did not fulfill curriculum needs would be traded for other titles at a later date.
Posted September 15, 2006.