Detroit Lakes Man Charged with Felony for Fire Near Washington Square Mall this Summer

DETROIT LAKES (KDLM) – A Detroit Lakes man has been charged with a felony negligence after sparks from a fire bowl on his apartment balcony allegedly caused a fire near the Washington Square Mall in Detroit Lakes on Sept. 10, 2021.

While officers were evacuating residents and battling the blaze, they were approached by Taylor Davis, 26, of Detroit Lakes, who lived in an apartment that adjoined the Washington Square Mall. Davis told the officers that the fire may have started in his apartment as he had been burning boxes in a fire bowl on his apartment balcony. He then left the fire bowl unattended thinking the fire was extinguished.

The fire caused the roof to collapse over most of Davis’ apartment, and part of the roof was missing from the adjoining apartment. It was determined that winds blew hot ashes from the fire bowl to the wood pile area, which then started on fire.

More than 300,000 gallons of water was used to put out the fire, businesses nearby including some in the Washington Square mall suffered significant smoke and water damage and were forced to temporarily close.

A hearing for Davis has been scheduled for Feb. 24 in Becker County District Court.