Teenager suspected of setting two fires

An Orchards man appeared in Clark County Superior Court on Tuesday in connection with at least two grass fires.

Brandon A. Emery, 18, admitted to setting two fires early Monday in a pasture near York Elementary School, 9301 N.E. 152nd Ave., according to court records.

Emery also is a suspect in several other fires, court records say.

“He told me the voices in his head forced him to set the fire using his cigarette lighter,” wrote Clark County sheriff’s Deputy Bob Mullikin in a court affidavit. “He also admitted to starting several other fires.”

Mullikin said a fire investigator would follow up on that information.

Judge Suzan Clark on Tuesday held Emery in lieu of $10,000 bail and appointed Vancouver attorney Gerry Wear to defend him.

He is scheduled to be arraigned on a charge of second-degree arson Aug. 1.

Damage in the July 21 fires was limited to two small areas, totaling less than a quarter of an acre. However, the fires had the potential to become large, investigators said.

Court records indicate that Emery has a history of mental health issues.