Fifth suspect arrested in Chelan Hills Fire investigation

EAST WENATCHEE — A fifth suspect has been arrested in connection with the Chelan Hills Fire, leaving one person outstanding in the investigation of the July 4 blaze that killed an Orondo man and injured six firefighters.

David Radchanka, 19, of Roy, was arrested Sept. 24 by members of the U.S. Marshals Service Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. Marshals stopped a vehicle in which they had observed Radchanka near a gas station in Roy and took him into custody without incident.

Radchanka was initially booked into the Pierce County Jail. Douglas County detectives took custody of him Sept. 25 and transported him to the Chelan County Regional Justice Center.

He was booked on Douglas County felony warrants for first-degree manslaughter, first-degree arson, first-degree malicious mischief and six counts of third-degree assault, the same charges that the four other suspects faced after each of their arrests.

Michael Yakimov, 18, of Kent, was arrested Sept. 2. Mark Okhrimchik, 19, of University Place; Valentin Tabunscic, 18, of Tacoma; and Julian Mikityuk, 19, of Pacific were arrested Sept. 17. At a Sept. 3 press conference following Yakimov’s arrest, Sheriff Tyler Caille said investigators expected five more arrests.

The fire began near U.S. Highway 97 in Douglas County early July 4. Robert M. Lister, 69, of Orondo, died while trying to escape the fire. Investigators have said fireworks fired from a moving truck ignited dry grass along the road. The blaze injured six firefighters, destroyed more than 100 structures and burned more than 10,000 acres.

“One suspect remains outstanding in this investigation, and detectives will continue their investigation until they can place them in custody,” Caille said in the latest Sheriff’s Office update.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media