KISSIMMEE, Fla.
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Deputies in Osceola County said an undercover operation led to the arrest of a man they call an arsonist.
Deputies were staking out this abandoned Motel 6 on Highway 192 overnight when they noticed a fire and someone leaving the area.
Osceola County Fire Department said they have been making trip after trip to the local motel to put out what's described as small fires.
Deputies said they spotted 24-year-old Justin Davis Williams running away from the hotel early Monday morning.
"There appeared to be a fire and an individual running from area. That individual was Justin Williams. He was apprehended and it was fire he had set," Twis Lizasuain of the Osceola County Sheriff's Office said.
On Saturday, fire broke out the abandoned motel in just after 5:15 p.m.
Fire officials said Saturday night's blaze was a multiple-alarm fire because it had multiple points of origin.
"It is definitely arson," Fire Chief Danny McAvoy said of the weekend blaze.
The state fire marshal was also called to the scene to investigate.
"It certainly waste a lot of resources, manpower and staffing," Lizasuain said.
The owner of the motel is cleaning up and clearing out the debris left behind in the rooms in hopes of preventing this happening again.
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