Former Firefighter Faces Charges In Three Arsons Ex-Volunteer Says He Set Blazes That Destroyed Homes

A former volunteer firefighter was arrested after fire destroyed two mobile homes and damaged two others at a Longview business.

Travis Boyd Steck, 27, of Longview, was arrested after police found him kneeling in weeds near the fire Monday at Consolidated Mobile Homes, Detective Jeff Davis said.

Steck told police he was looking for keys he had lost there, but he later confessed to setting the fire, Davis said.

Steck also confessed to igniting a portable-toilet fire that burned a house last week, Davis said.

Steck was held in the Cowlitz County jail for investigation of one count of first-degree arson, two counts of second-degree arson and one count of first-degree burglary. Bail was set at $150,000.

About five years ago, Steck was a volunteer firefighter for Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue.

He was dismissed after less than a year, said Dave LaFave, deputy chief of operations for Longview and Cowlitz 2.

LaFave said he didn’t know why Steck was dismissed.

Firefighters were called to Consolidated Mobile Homes at 2:49 a.m. Monday.

They found one mobile home engulfed in flames and smoke coming out of another.

Damage was estimated at $100,000, but that was expected to rise, Davis said.

There were no injuries.