The Cañon City man who was arrested early Tuesday morning after allegedly starting two overnight fires on the western side of town was arrested again early Wednesday morning after he allegedly set more fires near the Four Mile Creek Bridge.
Charles Fenstermacher. (Courtesy Cañon City Police Department)
Charles Fenstermacher, 34, appeared for advisements in the Four Mile Creek incidents Wednesday afternoon, where Magistrate Claire LeBeau set his bond at $10,000 cash only.
Fenstermacher was arrested early Tuesday morning for allegedly starting a fire along the south fence at the Royal Gorge Regional Museum & History Center in the 600 Block of Royal Gorge Boulevard. He was also suspected of starting a fire the same night on the upper patio area of the Happy Endings Caboose Café in the 400 block of Water Street.
Officers were able to suppress the first fire with fire extinguishers until the Cañon City Area Fire Protection District arrived and extinguished the fire. Officers put out the patio fire with a fire extinguisher.
The CCPD Patrol Sergeant passed along Fenstermacher’s description to a Colorado Department of Corrections search team, who was already in the area conducting training. At approximately 2:35 a.m. Tuesday, the search team spotted Fenstermacher on foot at 15th Street and Royal Gorge Boulevard.
Fenstermacher was arrested on suspicion of second-degree arson – $2,000-$5,000, a Class 6 felony, and second-degree arson – under $300, a petty offense. He was taken into custody by officers without incident and transported to the Fremont County Detention Center. He was released on a personal recognizance bond Tuesday afternoon.
In a separate incident, Cañon City firefighters were called to the area of the Four Mile Creek Bridge and U.S. 50 at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday for a wildland fire near the Maverick and Hampton Inn.
According to the Cañon City Area Fire Protection District, firefighters discovered multiple separate fires burning in the creek bottom involving trees, brush and slash piles. Firefighters were able to contain the fires to their area of origin, with a total of less than one acre burned.
The cause of the fires appears intentional and continues to be under investigation, the Fire District stated in a social media release.
There were no injuries reported.
During Wednesday’s advisements, District Attorney Jeff Lindsey argued for a $50,000 cash-only bond.
“We believe Mr. Fenstermacher poses a serious threat to the community, not only to the economic stability of this community, but also to the life and safety of shoppers and residents near this area where he set all these fires,” Lindsey said. “He created such a danger to all of these communities, and fortunately, the weather didn’t come up and cause untold damage to all these folks.”
Lindsey said three fires were set near properties and houses.
Fenstermacher’s public defender, Samantha Battey, asked for a PR bond, or a low cash surety bond, citing her client’s mental health concerns and no probable cause for two of three arson charges.
LeBeau ordered as a condition of bond that Fenstermacher stay away from the Maverick, the Hampton Inn, and a residence on Chaparral Drive.
Originally Published: July 16, 2025 at 12:52 PM MDT