Grand Forks (trfnews.i234.me) — A Grand Forks man faces a felony after a fire report at a store.
Chad A. Ostlund, with no listed address, is charged with endangering by fire. Court records describe the location as “Pro Serve” in Grand Forks.
The charge stems from a call on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. Responders were sent at about 8:06 a.m., according to court documents. The report was listed as criminal mischief.
Investigators reported finding burned paper near the firewood outside the business. The firewood was stored close to the building, the documents said. The paper showed signs of being lit and burned.
Court papers say surveillance video captured the incident. The video was reviewed during the investigation, according to the filing. The documents did not name any injured people.
Ostlund later spoke with investigators, the documents said. He said he wanted to watch the smoke rise. He said he did not want to set the building on fire.
Ostlund was arrested and booked, according to the documents. He is now facing a felony charge in district court.
What the charge means
North Dakota law includes a crime called endangering by fire or explosion. It appears in North Dakota Century Code 12.1-21-02. Readers can review the law on the state website.
Here is the statute on the North Dakota Legislature site: NDCC 12.1-21-02 (PDF). A summary is also posted by FindLaw: FindLaw NDCC 12.1-21-02.
The law applies when a person starts or maintains a fire. It also applies if the act puts people or a building at risk. The statute allows felony charges in some cases.
What happens next
More court dates are expected in the case. Charges are claims until a plea or verdict. The defendant is presumed innocent in court.
Readers can track public case entries online. The North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry is available here: publicsearch.ndcourts.gov.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.