Charges filed in arson case, Colorado Springs property owner speaks out

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - Charges have been filed against the man who allegedly started a fire, causing around $1 million worth of damage to a Colorado Springs property.

55-year-old James Bozarth is facing a fourth-degree arson charge for allegedly starting the fire.

The building was once a fully operating garage; used for storage, generator repairs, and emergency compliance services.

The owner, Chris Williams, says he woke up to calls from the Colorado Springs Police and Fire Department on December 29th because his building was on fire.

New court documents report homeless camps behind the building regularly had warming fires burning.

Court documents show Bozarth did have a warming fire going, but claims to have put it out before leaving the area.

However, investigators say Bozarth had a metal box with clothes inside. They say that the metal box is the origin of the fire that eventually spread to the rest of the building. 

As a result, he's now facing a class 2 felony for arson.

Bozarth is currently held at the El Paso County Jail, awaiting court proceedings.

Williams tells KRDO13 he’s a blue-collar guy who has put hundreds of hours of labor into the place.

He says while he is simply sad and disheartened, the focusing is getting his tenants back on their feet.

Williams has started a GoFundMe for two of the renters affected in the fire which can be found here.