Man arrested after Salina fire forces evacuation

CREATED Oct. 26, 2012

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(AP) There's been an arrest after an apartment fire in Salina.

A 38 year-old Salina man is jailed after being accused of starting a fire that forced more than a dozen people to evacuate their apartments. Salina police say the man set the fire in a bed and trash can while visiting an acquaintance Wednesday night. He allegedly used a blow torch found in the apartment to start the fire.

The Salina Journal said the apartment resident, Paul Smith, suffered minor injuries while trying to extinguish the fire. No one else was injured. The fire caused an estimated $35,000 damage.
The Red Cross says 14 other apartment residents were affected by the fire, and it helped eight with food, clothing and temporary shelter.