Police: Smoking caused Newport motel fire that killed 4

(Update: Fire’s cause released, suspect identified)

LINCOLN CITY, Ore. (AP) – Authorities say a fire at a coastal Oregon motel that killed four people and injured three others last summer was caused by careless smoking, and have arrested a suspect on numerous charges.

The fire’s probable cause was released Thursday by the Newport Police Department.

Court records show 38-year-old Rebecca Sinclair of Toledo, Oregon, was arraigned Tuesday on charges of manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, reckless burning and recklessly endangering another person.

Sinclair is being held on $750,000 bail.

Her court-appointed attorney, Jonathan Cable, says he just got the case and is still investigating the allegations.

Authorities say the fire started in Sinclair’s room on the lower floor of the two-story City Center Motel last Aug. 5.

The blaze killed couples from Portland and Springfield who were staying in rooms on the top floor.