Man guilty of starting apartment fire

The Daily Inter Lake

A Kalispell man has been convicted of causing a catastrophic fire last November at the Mountain Villa Apartments on West Reserve Drive outside Kalispell.

David Lawrence Bernach, 45, pleaded guilty to negligent arson, a felony, during a hearing Thursday in Flathead County District Court.

In exchange, prosecutors will recommend Bernach receive a 10-year probationary sentence and pay restitution.

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 several 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. on Nov. 21, spread flames into the apartment.

Firefighters from eight fire departments responded to the 141-unit apartment complex, rescuing at least two residents from flames that reached heights of 20 to 30 feet.

Firefighters emerged from the blaze with stories of thick, acrid smoke and temperatures high enough to melt their equipment.

The fire eventually gutted five apartments and damaged five more, according to the apartment complex's manager. Bernach was the only person injured.

Prosecutors said Bernach tried to extinguish the fire himself for as long as he could safely stay in the apartment, but he failed to call 911 at any time. When he could no longer stand the smoke, Bernach went outside and yelled for help.

Bernach, who was treated at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center emergency room for burns to his hands and face, reportedly told investigators at the scene, "This is all my fault."