Man arrested for starting small brush fire with fireworks in Spokane’s East Central neighborhood

A man was arrested Sunday afternoon in connection with a fire started in a field near Second Avenue and South Pittsburg Street in Spokane’s East Central neighborhood.

Spokane Police and Fire Department officials received several calls at around 1 p.m., police wrote in a news release. Upon arrival, they found the field in flames.

Witnesses told police they saw a man lighting fireworks near the field. Identified by police as Christopher Batemen, 38, he left the area, but witnessed were able to help police locate him. He is facing a charge of reckless burning.

Spokane firefighters were able to stop the flames from spreading to nearby houses.

Last Saturday, a 15-year-old who lit a firework in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is believed to be responsible for the Eagle Creek fire, which has consumed 33,382 acres of forested area east of Portland, Oregon.