Transient Jailed In Dragon House Fire

A Coeur d Alene Police Department officer was on routine patrol when he noticed flames in height of excess of 50 feet coming from behind the Dragon House at 512 East Appleway.  When the officer pulled into the parking lot, he found 36-year-old transient Andrew McLean Wanczak standing in the parking lot staring at the flames.  Wanczak told the officer he set the fire because he was cold. Coeur d Alene Fire Department put out the fire to prevent further damage. The fire set by Wanczak caused damage to landscaping/fencing of the Coeur d Alene Inn, three vehicles of hotel guests, overhead wires for phone and cable which caused interruption to the hotel and a small amount of flame damage to an adjacent building.  Estimated damage cost at this time of in excess of $20,000 dollars. Wanczak was arrested and transported Kootenai County Jail where he was charged with 1st degree Arson/ Christie Wood , Coeur d’Alene police spokeswoman.