KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Georgia man accused of setting a fire this week in his room at a West Knoxville motel was found with piles of straw and "multiple propane torches", a warrant states.
Robert F. Hunter, 56, of Hampton, Ga., is charged with aggravated arson and has a July 6 court date in Knox County General Sessions Court.
A fire was reported Wednesday morning at the Holiday Inn on Executive Park Drive. It forced the evacuation of dozens of guests.
No guest was injured. Damage was estimated at $30,000.
Hunter was in Room 304, according to authorities. He'd checked in the afternoon before.
Firefighters found "light to moderate" smoke in the room Wednesday morning as well as what appeared to be "burn patterns."
When it was safe to go in, a Knoxville Police Department arson investigator found someone had tried to burn cables and outlet covers.
"Further inspection revealed a mass of straw behind a vanity mirror and further signs of attempted ignition," a warrant states.
Authorities checked a Dodge Ram pickup with Georgia plates that Hunter had parked outside the front entrance.
"In plain view in the back seat was a bundle of straw consistent with the hidden and burned straw in the room," the warrant states.
Investigators also found propane torches inside Hunter's jacket, documents state.
He's being held in the Knox County jail in lieu of $40,000 bond.
Hampton, Ga., is about 30 miles south of Atlanta.
PREVIOUS STORY: A man is in custody after authorities said a fire broke out at a West Knoxville Holiday Inn on Wednesday morning.
Rural Metro said units from the Knoxville Fire Department were called to the Holiday Inn at 9134 Executive Park Drive on reports of a fire on the third floor around 8:20 a.m.
Hotel staff had already begun evacuations of 81 occupied units in the hotel when firefighters arrived on scene.
Upon entering the lobby, a spokesperson with KFD told 10News they encountered a middle-aged man who was an occupant of Room 304.
He complained of smoke inhalation but refused care or transport from EMS, KDF said.
Fire crews then climbed the stairs and gained entry to Room 304 - the fire's room of origin. Crews encountered "light to moderate" smoke in the room, and discovered what they said were suspicious burn patterns in the room.
That led to the arrest of the man who occupied that room.
At that point, two hours after the incident began, authorities said the arrestee agreed to go to the hospital to be evaluated.
KFD said other guest, hotel staff, or firefighters required no medical attention.
The hotel expects to return electrical power to all rooms except the room of origin, and guests will be permitted to resume their agendas.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.