Teen confesses to starting wildfire near Soap Lake

SOAP LAKE — A teenager has admitted to starting a fire near Soap Lake on Wednesday that destroyed one home and three outbuildings about a mile east of Soap Lake.

Grant County Fire Marshal Bruce Gribble said the investigation into the blaze that left a double-wide trailer and three outbuildings in ruins is still ongoing.

Gribble said the teen has showed investigators where the fire started, but why and how it started is still being investigated. Gribble does not believe there will be charges filed against the boy.

Grant County Fire District No. 7 initially responded to the scene, with Grant County fire district 5, 13 and the Ephrata Fire Department providing mutual aid. Initial information from GCFD No.7 on Wednesday put the size of the blaze at around 65-acres, but Gribble corrected that number and said the fire burned between 15-20 acres. No injuries were reported.