(CAÑON CITY, Colo.) — The Cañon City Police Department (CCPD) said police arrested a suspect in an alleged arson after a reported bush fire at the Cañon City Museum in the overnight hours of Tuesday, July 15.
According to CCPD, on Tuesday at around 12:42 a.m., police were called to the Cañon City Museum about a reported brush fire. When police arrived, they were able to suppress the fire with fire extinguishers until the Canon City Fire Protection District arrived to put out the fire.
Police reviewed the museum’s video footage and saw a man allegedly setting the fire along the south fence. Due to an earlier call involving the man, police identified the suspect as 34-year-old Charles Fenstermacher of Cañon City.
While police were investigating, they got a call about another fire at the Happy Endings Caboose Café in the 400 block of Water Street near the Cañon City Downtown Historic District. Police arrived and were able to use a fire extinguisher to put out the fire, which was contained to the upper patio area of the cafe.
Fenstermacher’s description was shared with the Colorado Department of Corrections Search Team, who were in the area conducting training. At around 2:30 a.m., the search team spotted Fenstermacher on foot at 15th Street and Royal Gorge Boulevard. Fenstermacher was taken into custody without incident and taken to the Fremont County detention Center.
Fenstermacher is being held without bond, pending court advisements, and is facing charges of Second-Degree Arson between $2,000 and $5,000 and Second-Degree Arson under $300.

