Second teen arrested in connection with Arnold’s fire

Bremerton Police detectives arrested a second teenager Friday morning at his home in connection with the Arnold’s Home Furnishings fire.

The 13-year-old will be booked into Kitsap County Juvenile Detention Center for first-degree arson and is expected to make his first court appearance Monday.

Investigators believe the 13-year-old broke a window and started a second fire about the same time the 16-year-old suspect ignited a fire inside the building July 27, according to Bremerton Police.

Bremerton Police detectives arrested the 16-year-old Port Orchard boy for arson Thursday afternoon in Belfair.

The 16-year-old was booked into Kitsap County Juvenile Detention Center Thursday night on a charge of first-degree arson and made his first court appearance Friday.

Investigators believe the 16-year-old broke a window and started a fire inside the 66,000-square-foot building on Kitsap Way, according to Bremerton Police.

Three youths, including the 16-year-old and 13-year-old, were reported to be skateboarding near Arnold’s Home Furnishings the night of the fire.

More than 100 firefighters were called in to battle the blaze in July, making it “the largest Kitsap County fire in recent history,” according to Bremerton Police. Firefighters from as far away as Tacoma, Lakewood, University Place and Gig Harbor responded to the two-day fire fight.

Fifteen fire investigators, the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Bureau and a Seattle Fire Department K-9 sifted through the debris on scene for eight days.

Investigators determined the fire was an arson Aug. 12, according to Bremerton Police.

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