Police: Arsonists ignited small fires in unfinished Auburn hotel

Auburn police are pursuing leads but have no suspects in two small fires set in a hotel under construction last weekend.

Auburn police are pursuing leads but have no suspects in two small fires set in a hotel under construction last weekend.

Firefighters from the Valley Regional Fire Authority responded and extinguished fires on the third and fourth floors of the unfinished La Quinta Inn in the 200 block of 6th Street Southeast.

Investigators conclude that arsonists caused the fires. They say damage from smoke and charring is likely to run into the tens of thousands of dollars.

The building is expected to be completed by the end of the year. It has a sprinkler system, but it’s not yet charged with water.

The first fire was reported and quickly extinguished late Friday night into early Saturday morning. A second fire was reported at the site just before 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

There were no injuries.