Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Fire claimed Bill Chipman Palouse Trail bridge in 2023
PULLMAN — A Moscow teenager accused of starting the fire that destroyed a bridge on the popular trail between Pullman and Moscow has been found innocent.
The 14-year-old was charged with arson in Whitman County Juvenile Court.
According to court documents, the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office believed the boy started the wildfire last August, which spread to a bridge on the Bill Chipman Palouse Trail.
Reports say two juveniles from Moscow, aged 13 and 14, allegedly started it.
The two had been seen in the immediate area when the fire began.
The blaze destroyed a span over Paradise Creek on the Pullman end of the trail, causing months of disruptions. Whitman County built a new quarter-million-dollar bridge, but insurance did not cover the replacement cost.
The case recently concluded with a juvenile court bench trial known as a “fact-finding hearing.”
Commissioner Doug Robinson determined there wasn’t enough evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
The blaze destroyed a span over Paradise Creek on the Pullman end of the trail, causing months of disruptions.
Olivia Harnack is a Journalist at the Whitman County Gazette. Olivia is enrolled at University of Idaho and is majoring in digital film studies. She serves in the United States Army National Guard and is proud to serve Whitman County.
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