A 60-year-old Hoquiam man has been arrested on suspicion of arson, accused of setting fire Saturday to his room at the Sandstone Motel on Aberdeen Avenue, according to Hoquiam deputy fire chief Don Wertanen.

Firefighters were called to the motel and saw “a large amount of smoke” coming from a room on the lower level. A smoldering box spring and mattress were found in the room and very little damage, other than smoke damage, had been done to the room and nobody was found inside, according to Wertanen.

”A witness told officers the male subject who had rented the room had left on his bicycle toward Simpson Avenue. The witness stated within a few minutes he heard what sounded like a smoke alarm going off in the room,” said Wertanen. “He stated he went to the window of the room and saw what looked like a bright glow inside the room. He pounded on the door and received no response, grabbed a motel fire extinguisher and kicked open the door. Once inside he found the bed was on fire and extinguished it.”

An arson investigator was called to the scene while Hoquiam Police officers identified the man, who was located several hours later in Aberdeen. He was taken into custody and booked into the county jail for first-degree arson, said Wertanen.

”The motel was entirely booked up at the time of this incident, but there weren’t any injuries to anyone staying there thanks to the quick actions of one of the guests staying there,” said Wertanen.

The case is still under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Grossi at 360-532-0892 ext. 295 or Det. Pearson at 360-532-0892 ext. 102.