Transient arrested on suspicion of starting fire in the Atascadero Printery building

A transient man was arrested Sunday afternoon on suspicion of starting a fire in the old Printery building in Atascadero, according to police and fire officials.

Authorities received a report at 2:12 p.m. of smoke coming out of one of the windows on the bottom floor at 6351 Olmeda Ave., said Sgt. Robert Molle of the Atascadero Police Department.

Atascadero’s police and fire departments found Phillip Martinez, 38, lying next to a small fire, Molle said.

Martinez was initially unresponsive to authorities on scene; they began to pull him out of the building, but Martinez woke up and exited the building, Molle said. He added that Martinez said he was getting out of the rain and using the fire to warm himself.

No damage was caused to the building. The space has been boarded up since the San Simeon Earthquake in 2003, said Capt. Bill White of the Atascadero Fire Department.

Martinez was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor causing a dangerous fire on a property. He was booked into San Luis Obispo County Jail, with his bail set at $2,000.

This story was originally published January 31, 2016 at 8:49 PM with the headline "Transient arrested on suspicion of starting fire in the Atascadero Printery building."