Man tells Lynnwood police stress led him to cause blast

Published 10:59 pm Friday, February 20, 2009

A man accused of causing a small explosion at a Lynnwood apartment building told police he was stressed at the time.

The man allegedly turned on an oven, set the thermostat to 400 degrees, and put a can of flammable hair spray inside, according to a document filed Friday in Everett District Court. He also put a container of lighter fluid near the hot oven.

The blast was heard just after noon on Feb. 13 at an apartment in the 18100 block of 36th Avenue W., Lynnwood Fire spokeswoman Marybeth O’Leary said.

It caused about $10,000 damage, she said. No one was injured.

Police on Thursday arrested the man, 20, who lived across the hall from the apartment, court papers said. The man allegedly admitted to setting off the explosion.

He was booked into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of first-degree arson and residential burglary.