A 58-year-old man has been arrested on a second-degree arson charge after a restaurant fire Monday, according to the Bethel Police Department.
Around 8:50 p.m. Monday, police and firefighters responded to 123 BBQ Express at 120 State Highway. Someone had reported seeing smoke and flames inside the building, according to a release Tuesday from the Bethel Police Department.
"The damage was minor because we were able to get there quickly and extinguish it," said Bethel Fire Chief Bill Howell. "It's literally a quarter of a mile away from the fire department."
Howell said there were no injuries in the fire. Firefighters determined the fire was suspicious and contacted the State Fire Marshal's Office for help with the investigation, he said.
Police later arrested Larson Edwards of Mekoryuk. He was charged with second-degree arson, according to the release. On Tuesday, Edwards was in custody at the Yukon-Kuskokwim Correctional Center in Bethel.