Pullman police said Tuesday they are seeking an occupant of a Pullman motel as a person of interest in an early morning fire that gutted one room and damaged at least two others at the American Travel Inn at 515 S. Grand Ave.
Police Cmdr. Christ Tennant said police and firefighters were called at 4:40 a.m. and arrived to find room 59 on the second-floor in flames.
According to Tennant and Mona Kaur, whose parents own the motel, the room was occupied by two employees of a roofing company with projects at Washington State University. Neither occupant was injured.
“They’ve been staying here for a very long time,” Kaur said. “The company has. They were here last year, too.”
Kaur said the man police are now seeking often gave the impression that he was intoxicated.
“At first his partner or room buddy was saying he was playing with toilet paper and lighting it on fire. Now, they’re saying it might have been gas or something that he was playing with,” she said. “They’re still investigating.”
The fire is under investigation by two fire investigators and two Pullman Police detectives.
Room 59, on the far west corner of the motel, was a mass of charred boards, a stark contrast to the room next door which still showed framed art on the white walls.
According to Tennant and a press release from the city of Pullman, minor damage was caused to the adjoining room and water damage to the room below the fire.
Tennant said structural damage to the motel was considerable.
“I’d be surprised if it were less than $100,000 worth,” he said.
Kaur said the motel has closed off the six rooms nearest the blaze, but will otherwise remain open for business.
Shanon Quinn can be reached at (208) 883-4636, or by email to squinn@dnews.com.
