Mike Wold, 28, confessed to starting the Nov. 10 fire in an interview with fire department investigators Friday, said Unified Fire Authority Capt. Michael Jensen. Authorities have not indicated what Wold said beyond his confession to make them believe he started the fire.
Early in their probe, investigators had wanted to talk to Wold, who was hospitalized for smoke inhalation.
``Our first-in crews just described tremendous fire and smoke when they arrived, and so based on the timelines from the 911 calls, we just had some questions,'' Jensen said. ``He had made some comments in the back of the ambulance.''
Jensen didn't say what those comments were, but said it appeared the fire was started in a pile of items in the living room floor.
``There wasn't any obvious ignition sources. When we did our investigation we couldn't easily attribute it to any electrical problem,'' he said.
Wold was arrested and booked into Salt Lake County Jail Friday where he remained on Monday.
The fire broke out in the apartment Wold shared with his wife, Melissa, and their two small children.
Wold allegedly attempted unsuccessfully to put out the fire.
He and his wife then grabbed their 2-year-old daughter and 10-month-old son and ran to a bedroom window. He dropped about 15 feet from the window and his wife dropped the children to him. Melissa Wold then climbed out the window to safety.
Wold suffered smoke inhalation and was taken to University Hospital in serious condition. His wife and children were not injured.
Damage was estimated at $200,000.
