Arson-suicide hits Opportunity

Tragedy struck in the early hours of Tuesday morning, May 14 as an Opportunity man set fire to his home before killing himself, according to information released by Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Police Chief Bill Sather. 

The man's name was released by law enforcement Wednesday morning. He was identified as William Jarvi, 65, of 311 Ayers St. in Opportunity, which is where the fire took place. While the Anaconda Leader as a matter of policy does not report suicides in general, however with the matter also being an arson we are reporting this information.

The incident was initially reported to 911 Emergency Dispatch at 4:47 a.m. Tuesday morning when a neighbor heard "two pops like gunshots," Sather said. The neighbor then alerted her husband, who looked out and saw flames coming from that neighboring residence – a single-wide trailer home – and called 911, Sather said. 

There was a complication to combating this particular fire, as the resident had also barricaded the doors of both entryways to the trailer home, Sather said. Even so, the Opportunity Volunteer Fire Department was first on scene and "they did a great job," Sather said.

"They shut it [the fire] down so only half of it was burned up," Sather said. "Opportunity did an excellent job knocking it down."

Opportunity was joined by the West Valley Volunteer Fire Department, Anaconda Ambulance and ADLC Law Enforcement.

Cody Lemm, Opportunity Volunteer Fire Department assistant chief, said they approached the fire with a defensive attack after a suicide note was discovered on a car outside the residence. 

"It was a straight defensive attack until we got the fire knocked down and we were able to get inside," Lemm said, adding that fire crews were on scene for about four to four-and-a-half hours. 

Once law enforcement officers were able to approach the residence they saw the resident, later identified as Jarvey, who was found deceased from a single gunshot wound to the head, Sather said. No other injuries were reported and the man was the residence's only occupant, Sather said. 

"Anytime there's a loss of life it's always sad," he said. 

If you are in crisis and want help, please call, text, or chat the Montana Crisis Lifeline, 24/7, at 988. More information, including suicide prevention resources, is available online at https://dphhs.mt.gov/suicideprevention/suicideresources.