Richland police investigating man who died in portable toilet fire at nature preserve
Police are investigating a man’s fiery death at the Chamna Natural Preserve in Richland.
Police received a 911 call about a body discovered in a portable toilet on the nature preserve about 10:30 a.m., Benton County Coroner Bill Leach confirmed.
It initially appears the man died in a fire he set inside the portable toilet.
Gasoline and a propane torch were found inside the building.
Leach said an autopsy is scheduled for Friday. It hasn’t been determined if the man died by suicide.
Police are still working to identify the man.
The preserve is a 276 acre park with 11 miles of trails that sits on the southern edge of Richland near the intersection of Highway 240 and Interstate 182.
This story was originally published February 19, 2025 at 12:58 PM.