A drunk hiker in Minnesota told police he was "blacked out" when he poured gasoline on a Boy Scouts of America cabin, igniting a fire he then attempted to douse with beer.
Andrew Thomas Kubiak, 35, of Duluth, Minnesota, used a hatchet to break into the cabin, poured a cup of gasoline inside then used a lighter to set it all on fire on September 13, 2024. When it went up in flames, Duluth News Tribune revealed he unsuccessfully tried throwing beer on the fire to stop it.
The suspect then called law enforcement and fled the scene. The fire had spread from the cabin, which belonged to the Boy Scouts of America, and a nearby shed before it was extinguished.
About two hours later, Kubiak called police again to tell them he had gotten lost on a hike. When officers arrived, they found Kubiak carrying a gas can and telling firefighters he wanted to start a fire, but denied starting the cabin fire.
A few weeks later, the man was brought in for questioning about a different case and admitted to police he "accidentally did something bad, and he really tried to put it out," according to CBS News. He also admitted he was "blacked out" after drinking heavily but remembered starting the blaze.
Kubiak was charged with first-degree arson and faces up to 20 years in prison, a $20,000 fine or both.
Originally published by Latin Times
