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Moses Kimble finally got exactly what he wanted after lighting a fire at the Savoy Apartments two years ago: a one-way ticket back to prison.

Kimble, 44, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Yakima County Superior Court to first-degree arson and was sentenced to 87 months in prison -- or a little more than seven years -- for setting fire to his room at the low-income Savoy on Oct. 2, 2006.

The fire he set could not have come at a worse time -- just blocks away, firefighters from throughout the region were battling a huge blaze at the S.S. Steiner hops warehouse.

Police said Kimble, who has a history of mental problems, drug use and arson convictions, was seen leaving the Savoy apartment building at 324 W. Yakima Ave. just as the building manager was pulling the fire alarm.

An affidavit filed in the case stated that Kimble set the fire knowing the building was occupied by small children and handicapped residents and that the building was old and would burn easily.

According to a mental health evaluation submitted to the court by Eastern State Hospital, Kimble knew what he was doing and that he said he "didn't want to be in the Savoy" anymore, because "everywhere you turn, there's nothing but dope." He then said he set fire to his room so that he could get locked in prison again.

According to the evaluation, Kimble lit his mattress, blinds and blankets on fire, the whole time thinking "prison, prison, prison."

Kimble told Eastern State Hospital staff that he didn't think about all the lives he was placing in danger by lighting the fire, and that as he was exiting the building afterwards thought about how he wanted to "just get out, get away, pick up my check at mental health and smoke some cigarettes."

After cashing his check, Kimble went to a local bar and ordered a wine cooler, where witnesses said he told the bartender he was "going to prison" and then left a nice tip. Afterwards, he returned to the scene of the crime and told police there that he had set the fires.

Firefighters knocked down the blaze within 10 minutes. The fire was visible through two of the apartment's windows but was not as severe as firefighters initially feared. It mostly burned bedding and curtains, causing about $8,000 in fire and smoke damage.

Two men were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.

The evaluation states that although Kimble was diagnosed with having a schizoaffective disorder, he is competent enough to understand court proceedings and knew right from wrong at the time of the arson. The evaluation notes that Kimble has two previous convictions for arson in 1991 and 1994 and stated that Kimble was likely to reoffend and place others in danger "unless kept under further control."

According to the evaluation, even Kimble agreed with this last statement, and said he has difficulty managing with "too much freedom."

"I'm institutionalized," he said.