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Flagstaff PD: Man arrested for starting wildfire near hospital

Flagstaff PD: Man arrested for starting wildfire near hospital
Posted at 11:01 AM, Mar 30, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-30 14:09:48-04

The Flagstaff Police Department has arrested a 50-year-old man for allegedly starting a wildfire near a hospital on Wednesday. 

Just before 1:30 p.m. officers responded to the wooded area across from the Flagstaff Medical Center emergency department for a report that a wildfire had been started. 

Shawn Farnham, 50, had reportedly been seen leaving the medical center, crossing the street into the wooded area and later returning to the hospital. 

Minutes after Farnham returned, smoke was seen coming from the wooded area, according to police. 

After speaking with witnesses, officers identified Farnham who later admitted to being in the area and said he may have inadvertently started the fire while disposing of a cigarette.

Fire officials from the Flagstaff Fire Department determined that a cigarette was not likely the cause because of humidity and temperature conditions. 

Police say Farnham was currently on federal probation and on supervised release for previous cases of arson. 

He was booked into the Coconino County Jail after he was released from the hospital.