Former Fall City man looks at community service Sentencing set for inn fire fraud

Former Fall City resident Jim Burrows has been cleared of accusations that he attempted to burn down the Snoqualmie Inn in 2005.

However, Burrows could end up doing community service for making a fraudulent insurance claim in connection with the fire.

Burrows, 60, pleaded guilty to the fraud charge on Thursday, May 8, in King County Superior Court. Sentencing is scheduled for June 6.

Prosecutors agreed to dismiss the charge of first degree arson.

“We felt it was an appropriate resolution,” said King County Prosecutor’s Office spokesman Dan Donohoe. “We felt there were some evidentiary issues” concerning the arson charge.

Burrows, who is now living in Seattle, told the Valley Record last month that the arson case should never have been filed, and that there was no evidence of any arson.

Prosecutors recommended a sentence of 30 days in jail, converted to community service, as punishment for the fraud charge, which is a gross misdemeanor.

Snoqualmie Inn, located at 384th Avenue Southeast and Kimball Creek Drive, caught fire on May 19, 2005. Following a year-and-a-half long investigation, prosecutors alleged that the fire had started from bug bombs in the kitchen that got into the deep fat fryer.

Following the fire, Burrows filed a claim with Pacific Liberty Northwest Insurance for injuries received in the fire. He claimed to have hurt his back, neck and shoulders when he fell down the stairs while alerting guests about the fire. Snoqualmie Fire Chief Bob Rowe informed investigators that no member of his department or paramedics were approached by anyone regarding injuries from the fire. Burrows said he didn’t start to feel pain until the next day.

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