EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A man was charged with arson after allegedly starting a fire on Saturday, Jan. 25 at a Las Cruces motel, according to the Las Cruces Fire Department.
The Fire Department says Zachary Dennis, 34, a resident of the motel along West Picacho Avenue, was charged with a felony count of arson. He also had two misdemeanor warrants for failure to appear in municipal court, the Fire Department said.
At around 10 a.m. that Saturday, firefighters were dispatched to a report of a commercial structure fire at the Western Inn, located at 2155 W. Picacho Avenue.
Twenty-six firefighters arrived to find heavy flames and smoke coming from multiple bedrooms.
Fire crews had the fire under control within 20 minutes. Four occupants of the hotel were treated at the scene but they refused transportation, according to the Fire Department.
The fire temporarily displaced occupants from four units. Motel management was able to relocate the displaced occupants to other units in the motel, the Fire Department said.
Dennis is initially being held without bond at the Dona Ana County Detention Center, according to the Fire Department.
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