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Kalispell man pleads guilty to negligent arson

By The Associated Press

Story Created: Jul 2, 2009 at 9:39 PM MST

Story Updated: Jul 2, 2009 at 9:39 PM MST

KALISPELL - A Kalispell man has pleaded guilty to negligent arson for a fire that destroyed several units in an apartment building.

David Bernach was accused of using gasoline to ignite wood in his fireplace on Nov. 21 after several previous attempts to get the fire started with other methods failed. Some of the gas spilled out of the fireplace and spread flames into the apartment. The blaze destroyed 10 units in the building.

No one was injured, except Bernach, who suffered minor burns to his face and hands while trying to smother the fire with a comforter. Bernach denied the arson charge in December, but struck a plea deal that calls for a 10-year suspended sentence and restitution.

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