56-year-old Tri-City man ID’d as fire victim in Richland park portable toilet

A 56-year-old man appears to have died from the smoke from a fire intentionally set in a portable toilet in a Richland park.

Rick A. Scott, a West Richland HVAC business owner, was identified as the man found about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday morning after someone spotted a fire at the Chamna Natural Preserve, said Benton County Coroner Bill Leach.

The initial results of Friday’s autopsy show he likely died from smoke inhalation rather than burns. The Washington State Patrol Toxicology Lab will be making some tests to confirm that, he said.

Investigators say Scott appeared to set the fire inside the toilet. Gasoline and a propane torch were found inside.

The Chamna 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.