Suspect Arrested in Intentional House Fire Near Bemidji After Investigation

Investigators arrested a person in connection with a house fire near Bemidji that occurred on Feb 20, 2026, after determining the blaze had been intentionally set. The arrest follows an arson investigation launched in the immediate aftermath of the Feb 20 fire that damaged a residence outside Bemidji.

Beltrami County investigators opened the arson probe after responding to the Feb 20 blaze and, through their initial work, concluded the fire was not accidental. The determination that the fire was intentionally set shifted the inquiry from fire suppression and scene safety to a criminal arson investigation focused on cause and responsibility.

In the days after the Feb 20 fire, investigators located a suspect at a residence in the city of Bemidji and took that person into custody. The locating and arrest of the individual at a Bemidji address were the direct result of investigative steps tied to the arson inquiry that began following the Feb 20 incident near Bemidji.

The arson investigation that began with the Feb 20 house fire remains active as investigators pursue evidence related to the intentionally set blaze. The arrest marks a significant development in the probe connected to the Feb 20 incident near Bemidji, and investigators continue work to document the cause and circumstances of the fire.

This detention after the Feb 20 fire represents a key enforcement action for authorities working the arson case near Bemidji. As the investigation that began on Feb 20 proceeds, the arrest of a person located at a Bemidji residence will be central to next steps in determining charges and resolving the circumstances of the intentionally set house fire.