Washington Man Arrested in Connection With Louisiana Hotel Fire that Injured Two Firefighters

Sulphur, Louisiana - The Louisiana State Fire Marshal's Office (LASFM) reported on October 24, 2022, that it had arrested a transient from Washington State for allegedly igniting a fire that caused an empty Sulphur hotel to burn down.

On Sunday, October 23, Nathan Hal Thomasini, 27, was booked into the Calcasieu Parish Jail on one count of Simple Arson, Simple Burglary, and Injury by Arson. Another law enforcement agency has charged him with further offenses.

The Sulphur Fire Department responded to reports of a hotel fire in the 300 block of South Cities Service Highway early Sunday morning, October 23. The Quality Inn & Suites hotel had been uninhabited and without power connections or life safety features such as fire sprinklers since the 2020 hurricanes that struck southwest Louisiana. During the response, two firefighters suffered minor injuries.

Deputies learned during the inquiry that Thomasini, who was known to trespass on the property, was arrested by Sulphur Police early in the investigation. Further investigation, including the collection of witness testimony and security video of the area, confirmed Thomasini's presence in the near vicinity of the hotel at the time of the incident. Deputies also confirmed that he was the only person in the structure at the time of the incident. Thomasini was later booked on various arrest warrants related to the crime.

LASFM indicated that the Sulphur Fire Department, Sulphur Police Department, City of Sulphur Public Works, Calcasieu OEP, Lafayette Fire Department, Alexandria Fire Department, and Louisiana Search and Rescue (SAR) K-9 team are among the many agencies that helped with this speedy case completion.

An arrest is an indication that probable cause exists to believe the subject was involved in the offense alleged. A person is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Featured image source: LASFM