Boy, 16, arrested in Bremerton furniture-store arson

A 16-year-old Port Orchard boy has been arrested for investigation of arson in connection with a fire at a Bremerton home-furnishings store on July 27.

Bremerton police say the youth is alleged to have been in the area of Arnold's Home Furnishings in the 3500 block of Kitsap Way in West Bremerton in the early-morning hours with two other boys. The three were reported to be skate boarding near the store. Police detectives said evidence indicated the 16-year-old broke a window and started the fire, which spread quickly.

More than 100 firefighters from throughout Kitsap County and as far away as Tacoma, Lakewood and Gig Harbor were dispatched to battle the blaze.

In the aftermath of the fire, which burned more than two days, more than a dozen investigators combed through debris at the scene. A Bremerton Fire spokesman said the fire was treated as a crime scene because of its suspicious nature. The fire later was classified as arson.

The teen was taken into custody today in Belfair, just south of Bremerton. He was booked into the Kitsap County Juvenile Center and is expected to make a court appearance on Friday.

The store has established a temporary location one block north of the burned-out store.

Charles E. Brown: 206-464-2206 or cbrown@seattletimes.com