![A man in a red sweater near a trash can in which there is a fire.](https://opb-opb-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EM2SB44RPBE6RJMDKKISM5D6C4.jpg?auth=5131d32babe641f6bafb973b06cde4417401839dae0df11a2ebdff724daa2890&width=150)
Portland fire officials suspect Fredy Javier Paredes-Kancab, 34, of starting several fires in Northeast Portland.
Photo courtesy Portland Fire & Rescue
A man suspected of starting several fires in Northeast Portland last week has died.
Portland Fire and Rescue officials say Fredy Javier Paredes-Kancab, 34, died by suicide. They did not say where he was found, or if there was a warrant out for his arrest. In a statement, fire officials said Paredes-Kancab’s identity was confirmed Friday, and Portland police officers found him Sunday when they responded to a call about a deceased person.
Officials suspect Paredes-Kancab of starting 14 fires in Portland on Sept. 20. He had also been arrested in connection to three fires in Gresham on Sept. 18.
Paredes-Kancab was also arrested in July for breaking windows at several businesses in Northeast Portland, as reported by The Oregonian/OregonLive. Police at the time described him as homeless.
According to police records, when they asked Paredes-Kancab why he destroyed windows, he said he wanted to go to jail because he was hungry and didn’t have a place to go.
![A map showing several locations in Portland.](https://opb-opb-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HIFZOILTDBF4RHAHOPDWTSBXH4.png?auth=1b3e366c0afb0a7c31636c5cafc1be415576c1a041013bb88f538d979bf91a1b&width=150)
The locations of where Fredy Javier Paredes-Kancab is suspected to have caused fires.
Graphic courtesy Portland Fire & Rescue