A court commissioner set bail at $100,000 cash or bond Monday for a man accused of starting a fire in bushes outside Providence Centralia Hospital.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Mark S. Hipp, 51, of Olympia, allegedly gave security personnel his reason for starting the fire.
"I did it, because I can," Hipp allegedly said.
Hipp is charged with one count of first-degree arson. He faces up to life in prison for the Class A felony, if convicted.
Hipp made a preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Monday.
Senior Deputy Prosecutor Scott Jackson noted the seriousness of the charges and the fire’s alleged proximity to the hospital when making his request for $100,000 in bail.
Defense attorney Rachael Tiller said Hipp was unable to post bail and asked for no more than $10,000. According to Tiller, Hipp’s bail was previously set at $50,000 over the weekend.
Commissioner Cailen Cecil set bail at $100,000 cash or bond, in agreement with the state, and ordered that Hipp be prohibited from possessing any firestarting material — such as matches, lighters or lighter fluids — as part of his release conditions. Cecil also prohibited Hipp from voluntarily contacting Providence Centralia Hospital.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Centralia police responded to a report of possible arson at 1800 Cooks Hill Road on Aug. 7. They arrived to find Hipp already in handcuffs.
Hospital security personnel at the scene said they’d learned a man was starting a fire in the bushes near one of the campus buildings.
According to the affidavit, the guards reportedly saw Hipp standing next to a fire “in the bark,” about nine feet away from the building.
“It appeared to them that a number of small fires had been started and then extinguished,” the affidavit said.
The guards handcuffed Hipp, after he allegedly resisted detainment.
Fire personnel arrived after the officers and said the fire was still smoldering underground. They said the fire could have eventually reached the building.
Officers booked Hipp into the Lewis County Jail shortly before 5 p.m.
Hipp has no felony history, according to the affidavit. He is scheduled for an arraignment on Aug. 13.
