A Salina man is accused of setting an apartment on fire. Police arrested Robert Walker Wednesday night. They say he didn't live in the apartment, he was invited over by Paul Smith, who lives in the complex.
Police say the man started the fire in a trash can in a bathroom and at the foot of Smith's bed.
"We saw a whole bunch of fire trucks, flashing lights, two ambulances, the canines," Louise Walden, who lives in the complex, said "Everybody was here"
The smoke forced 15 people to evacuate their apartments. The Red Cross is now helping them with food and shelter.
"It was a rough feeling because I wanted to assess the damage," resident Tracey Hall said. "I mean I was planning on coming home, taking a bath, do my normal thing."
The Salina Police Department says the fire caused about $35,000 in damage. They are unsure what prompted the man to start the fire.
This is the third arson in Salina in two weeks. Police are looking to see if the cases are connected.
"Anytime we have something like that close in time frame we are going to look at it for a possible connection," Lieutenant Scott Siemsen said.
Some of the residents were able to return on Thursday.
