POLICE: Cañon City man lights downtown fires, gets arrested, and returns to light wildland fire

CAÑON CITY, Colo. (KRDO) – The Cañon City Police Department confirms that they believe a string of fires were tied to just one man. 34-year-old Charles Fenstermacher was arrested in the early morning hours of July 15 on suspicion of setting fires near a museum and cafe. After his arrest and release, Fenstermacher reportedly returned that very same evening and allegedly started a small wildland fire.

According to police, they were called to the Cañon City Museum around 12:42 am for a brush fire. Police say they arrived before the fire department, and were able to hold it off with a fire extinguisher until firefighters arrived.

Police say the suspect was caught on surveillance video setting fire to brush along a fence. They say they identified him as Fenstermacher because they had gotten an earlier call about him.

While at the scene of the museum, police say they got another call about a different fire at the Happy Endings Caboose Café.

At 2:35 a.m., a Department of Corrections team conducting training in the area spotted him, and the police department says he was taken into custody by their officers.

Police say Fenstermacher was charged and put on a no-bond hold for court advisements.

He presumably left custody that same day because police say that very same evening, he allegedly set a small wildland fire.

According to the department, at around 9:30 p.m. on July 15, Cañon City firefighters were called to the area of the Four Mile Creek Bridge and US Highway 50 after receiving reports of a wildland fire. The fire was burning near a Maverick Gas Station and a Hampton Inn.

When crews arrived, they discovered multiple separate fires burning in the bottom of the creek, involving trees, brush, and slash piles, CCAFPD said.

Firefighters worked to extinguish the flames and successfully contained the fires to the area where they originated. Only less than an acre in total burned, the department confirmed, and there were no injuries reported.

According to CCAFPD, the cause of the fires is still under investigation; however, officials say they appear to have been set intentionally.

Anyone with further information on these fires is asked to call the Cañon City Police Department at (719) 276-5600.

Stay up to date with the latest local news, sports, and investigations by downloading the KRDO13 app. Click here to download it from the Apple App Store. Android users can download it from Google Play here.