Van fire considered as arson incident; Emporia man arrested

Local authorities say the fire that destroyed a conversion van in central Emporia early Saturday was not by accident.

Emporia Police officers arrested 53-year-old Miguel Renterio of Emporia a few hours after a conversion van caught fire near the intersection of West South and Neosho. The fire was reported just before 5:30 am, and Emporia Fire Battalion Chief Ryan Conley says the van was already fully consumed by fire when crews arrived shortly after the 9-1-1 call.

Nobody was injured and the fire did not spread to anything nearby. An investigation continues through Emporia Fire. Given the timing of the incident, formal charges are pending.

8 am Saturday: Fire destroys van in Emporia early Saturday

An investigation is underway after a destructive vehicle fire in central Emporia early Saturday.

Emporia Fire was dispatched to West South and Neosho just before 5:30 pm. Battalion Chief Ryan Conley says a full-sized conversion van was already engulfed in flames when crews arrived. The fire was put out, but not before the van was destroyed.

Nobody was injured and the fire did not spread to anything nearby. A cause is under investigation and the origination point is currently unclear.