Kennewick firefighters pull man from burning home. Then he was arrested

A Kennewick man who was pulled from a burning home early Friday is now in the Benton County jail.

Sergio Simon Tijerina, 34, allegedly started the blaze that damaged the inside of a split-level home at 303 West 19th Avenue home at 2:45 a.m.

Two people, a 31-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman, who share the house escaped through a window, but Tijerina refused to leave, said Kennewick police and fire officials.

Kennewick firefighters pulled him out of a bedroom, while others doused the flames that damaged the kitchen and main hallway.

Police said Tijerina was acting erratically.

Initial investigations show the fire was started in two spots in the house.

Tijerina was booked into the jail about 5 a.m. on an investigative hold for first-degree arson.

The Red Cross is helping the other residents.

The Pasco Fire Department helped fight the fire.

This story was originally published September 29, 2017 at 7:16 AM with the headline "Kennewick firefighters pull man from burning home. Then he was arrested."