Man faces looting, arson charges after southeast Fresno church fire

A 19-year-old Fresno man has been booked on charges of looting, arson and vandalism after a southeast Fresno church was set on fire.

He was identified as Evan Regalado, who was being held in the Fresno County Jail on a $50,000 bond.

The fire was set Thursday on the campus of Grace United Methodist Church on East Balch and South Fourth Street, a church first opened in 1906.

Fresno Fire investigator Jay Tracy said firefighters were called to the church earlier Thursday and returned Thursday night. The arson took place in an education building adjacent to the church, according to Pastor James Luther.

“The whole building was ransacked,” Luther said. “We are pretty frustrated.”

Luther estimated the damage to be in the thousands of dollars.

This story was originally published May 29, 2020 at 11:41 AM.