Accused fire-starter pleads innocent

The Daily Inter Lake

A Kalispell man has pleaded innocent to causing the catastrophic Nov. 21 fire at the Mountain Villa Apartments on West Reserve Drive near Kalispell.

David Lawrence Bernach, 45, entered a not-guilty plea to one count of negligent arson, a felony, during his arraignment Thursday in Flathead County District Court.

According to court documents, Bernach - who was staying in a ground-floor unit in the apartment complex's west wing - used gasoline to ignite the wood in his fireplace after previous attempts to get the fire going with other methods failed.

But some of the gasoline spilled out of the fireplace and, at about 1 a.m., spread flames into the apartment. The fire swiftly spread to other apartments.

The massive fire - fought by eight fire departments - eventually gutted five apartments and damaged five more in the 141-unit complex.

No one besides Bernach was injured, although four kittens died in the burned apartments.

Prosecutors allege Bernach tried to extinguish the fire by himself for as long as he could safely stay in the apartment. Prosecutors also say that he failed to call 911 at any time.

When he could no longer stand the smoke, Bernach went outside and yelled for help.

After he was treated at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center emergency room for burns to his hands and face, Bernach was taken to the Sheriff's Office for questioning.

He reportedly told investigators at the scene, "This is all my fault."

Bernach is being held at the Flathead County Detention Center in lieu of $25,000 bail. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.