Associated Press
WINTHROP — An Everett woman investigators believe started a fire that burned two hotels in this Old West theme town has been arrested and booked into jail for investigation of first-degree reckless burning and third-degree assault, the Okanogan County Sheriff’s office said Saturday.
Nannette Kay Lohr, 35, of Everett appears to have started the spectacular fire Friday night by burning combustibles in her hotel room, Okanogan County Sheriff Mike Murray said.
Authorities said no further details were available, and fire investigators did not immediately return phone calls.
Lohr, who was being held without bail at the Okanogan County Jail, was staying at Riverside Lodge. It was unknown whether she was one of three people who suffered minor injuries.
Investigators from the state Fire Marshall’s Office were sifting through the charred remains of the Hotel Rio Vista and the Riverside Lodge on Saturday, trying to determine exactly where and how the fire started.
Dale Fasse, owner of the Riverside Lodge, estimated damage to both buildings at about $1.5 million.
"I can’t for the life of me understand how it got that out of control," he told The Wenatchee World.
Witnesses said several cars in front of the hotels also were burned, which Murray confirmed, though he said he could not provide any further details. There was no immediate damage estimate from the fire, which was contained around 10:30 p.m., about two hours after it was reported.
Real estate agent Delene Monetta, 38, a lifelong resident of Winthrop, was headed through Winthrop when she saw the flames.
"It was just engulfed, it went up in flames quickly," she said in a telephone interview Saturday. "I just couldn’t believe it. Both of the buildings are relatively new."
Monetta said she and a colleague helped the people staying in the hotels find other arrangements for the night.
Firefighters from the nearby towns of Twisp, Carlton and Mazama were called in to help Winthrop firefighters.
Winthrop, with a population of about 350, is a tourist town located in the Methow Valley of northcentral Washington. It is a popular winter jumping-off point for cross-country skiers and snowmobilers.
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