Vancouver Man Charged with First-Degree Arson After Furniture Store Fire
A man, Josue Paredes Merino, previously arrested for theft and a brush fire, has been charged with first-degree arson in Vancouver, OR, following a fire at Furniture World SW that resulted in an estimated $640,000 in damages.
Portland, OR, September 3, 2026 —
A man identified as Josue Paredes Merino has been charged with first-degree arson in connection with a fire that occurred at Furniture World SW in Vancouver, Oregon. The incident has resulted in an estimated $640,000 in damages.
The charges follow a fire incident at the retail location. Details regarding the exact date of the fire and the specific circumstances leading to the charges were not provided in the available information.
Court records indicate that Josue Paredes Merino has prior arrests for theft and a brush fire. These previous encounters with law enforcement are noted in relation to the current arson charge.
The full extent of the damage to Furniture World SW has been estimated at approximately $640,000. Further details about the investigation, including the cause of the fire and the timeline of events leading to the arrest and charges, have not been publicly disclosed. Information regarding the proceedings related to the prior arrests for theft and brush fire was also not provided.
Story summarized from the original created by FOX 12 Staff on www.kptv.com, see more information here.
