A man was arrested after allegedly setting four different fires in parts of Visalia on Saturday morning, the Visalia Police Department said.
Police said Charles Spurlock, 36, set fire to a vacant building on Noble Avenue around 9:30 a.m, causing $15,000 in damage, and fled.
A little more than an hour later, a fire causing $10,000 in damage was reported at the Fairfield Inn Hotel on South Akers Street. Employees and hotel guests were evacuated, and an employee injured her hand trying to extinguish the fire. Police were able to get a description of Spurlock from the incident.
Around 11 a.m, a grass fire was reported at Tulare Avenue and Akers Street, causing $1,000 worth of damage. About 45 minutes later, an officer spotted Spurlock at the Trinity United Refomed Church on Walnut Avenue when an alarm went off.
Police said Spurlock was arrested in a backyard in the area of Savannah and Judy Streets after jumping fences in an effort to get away. He was booked on suspicion of two counts of burglary and four counts of arson, police said.
All fires were extinguished by the Visalia Fire Department, including the fire at the church, where damage was estimated at $15,000.
Ashleigh Panoo: 559-441-6010, @AshleighPan
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