Douglas County Sheriff Tyler Caille warned that a circle of young adults will face consequences after a July 4 fireworks stunt turned deadly.
Michael Yakimov, 18, of Kent, Washington, is being held on $1 million bail after investigators linked him to the Chelan Hills Fire, a 15.6-square-mile blaze that killed one motorist, injured six firefighters, and destroyed more than 100 structures including 19 homes. His arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 17 in Douglas County.
The victim was Robert Lister, 69, an Orondo resident whose vehicle left the road and was consumed by flames as the fire spread rapidly through central Washington. Authorities identified him earlier this month.
Newly released video obtained by investigators captures the moments that allegedly sparked the catastrophe. The footage shows young people laughing and shooting Roman candles from the bed of a truck along US Highway 97 shortly after midnight on July 4, according to court documents.
“Shoot it at them, shoot at it them!” someone yells in the clip, as others cackle amid the explosions.
A separate voice delivers a warning that now carries heavier meaning: “Don’t tell them who was shooting though.”
Investigators recovered a firework called a Trooper Turret near milepost 233, close to where the fire is believed to have originated. The device is described in court documents as a cluster of Roman candles capable of firing 240 shots in 46 seconds.
Yakimov faces first-degree manslaughter, first-degree arson, first-degree malicious mischief, and six counts of third-degree assault. The assault charges correspond to the injured firefighters.
Caille told reporters earlier this month that authorities were pursuing arrest warrants for five additional individuals, all adults over 18. He characterized them as “complicit with the same crimes.”
“This is complete recklessness that led to billions of dollars of loss, loss of Mr. Lister’s life and, unfortunately, everybody involved in that is going to have to pay those consequences,” the sheriff said during a news conference.
The fire’s toll extended far beyond the immediate loss of life. The blaze destroyed more than 100 structures total, leaving a broad scar across the landscape and displacing residents whose homes were among the 19 completely lost. Six firefighters sustained injuries battling the inferno as it spread across the dry central Washington terrain.
The combination of late-night highway antics, high-powered commercial fireworks, and tinder-dry conditions produced a devastating outcome that Caille framed as entirely preventable. The video evidence, including the recorded warnings about secrecy, now forms part of the prosecution’s case against Yakimov and potentially against the five others still being sought.
Yakimov’s $1 million bail reflects the severity of the charges and the multiple fatalities and injuries involved. His Sept. 17 arraignment will mark the next formal step in proceedings that could extend well into 2025 given the complexity of the case and the ongoing search for additional suspects.
