Suspected arsonist lit six fires in Tacoma because he was ‘bored,’ records say
A man accused of lighting six fires in Tacoma over the course of three days told police he heard about other people setting fires and thought it would be “cool and fun,” records say.
Cameron Riley Prater, 20, was charged Friday with one count of first-degree arson and five counts of second-degree arson in Pierce County Superior Court.
He pleaded not guilty at arraignment and bail was set at $1 million.
Charging documents allege Prater lit the fires in a 10 block by six block area of the city Oct. 23-25. The largest of the fires caused significant damage to an office for St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Parish. Photos of the aftermath showed the building’s roof caved in.
Smaller fires were reported at the back door of a day care center on South Mildred Street, two garages on South 12th Street, the metal back door of a business on 6th Avenue and a travel trailer parked on South Hawthorne Street. No one was injured in the fires.
Detectives arrested Prater at his residence Thursday without incident. According to the probable cause statement, Prater admitted to setting the six fires during an interview.
“One of the detectives asked the defendant why he set the church fire,” prosecutors wrote in charging papers. “The defendant replied that he had heard about other people lighting fires and had watched other people light fires. He said he was bored and thought it would be ‘cool and fun.’”
Detectives began to suspect Prater after noticing he reported two of the fires and was a witness at a third. Prosecutors wrote in charging papers that Prater lives in the middle of the area where the fires occurred.
Police talked with a man, later identified as Prater, standing near the scene of the Oct. 24 church office fire while police investigated. According to the declaration for determination of probable cause, Prater told police he’d seen a teenager light a fire next to the building.
At the scene of the day care fire, police found several pieces of partially burned mail that had a different name but a matching address for where Prater lived. Detectives believe the name on the mail was a relative of Prater.
Prater was also at the scene of the Oct. 25 travel trailer fire when fire crews arrived, according to the probable cause statement. He called 911 to report it. Fire investigators found cardboard and firewood strategically placed around the trailer.
Prater told fire investigators he saw a small fire under the back end of the trailer, but it wasn’t until the fire grew larger that he felt the need to call 911.
Charging documents gave this account of each fire:
- Oct. 23, 5959 S. 12th St.: Fire crews found a small fire against the exterior of a garage unit in a row of garages for a condominium complex. Investigators found a burned book and burned magazine pages where the fire started.
- Oct. 23, 5959 S. 12th St.: A fire was reported three hours later at a different garage unit in the same condominium complex as the fire above. It was three garages down from the first, and the fire was identical.
- Oct. 24, 6305 6th Ave.: A fire was reported about 3 a.m. at a metal door near a business’ loading dock. A witness found an on-fire cardboard box full of tree branches and paper. The witness kicked the box away from the door and put it out with water from her car.
- Oct. 24, 7112 S. 12th St.: Fire crews responded about 4:50 a.m. to the fire at the office of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Parish. It appeared the fire was set near the bottom-right of the garage door. The fire extended up into the attic space and the roof eventually collapsed. Surveillance footage showed a person bending down near the garage at 3:38 a.m., followed by a flicker of light near the garage door. The entire structure was on fire about an hour later.
- Oct. 24, 635 S. Mildred St.: Detectives determined a fire started at the back door of a day care at about 2:50 a.m. Staff at the daycare discovered the aftermath of the fire the next morning when they found the back door charred. Police found partially burned mail at the scene.
- Oct. 25, 848 S. Hawthorne: Prater called 911 about 2:50 a.m. to report a fire at a travel trailer. Fire investigators found the blaze started outside the trailer on the rear of the passenger side. Cardboard and firewood was found strategically placed around the trailer. Damage was contained to the trailer.
This story was originally published October 29, 2021 at 12:55 PM.
