Police have arrested the man they say caused the three-alarm fire Tuesday, March 4, that completely destroyed a condo building at 8760 Corona St. in unincorporated Adams County.

The Adams County Sheriff's Office announced Thursday, March 7, that 20-year-old Martin Castruita Espinoza is wanted for criminal attempt first-degree murder, first-degree arson and aggravated cruelty to animals.

The Sheriff's Office reported that Espinoza turned himself in midday Friday.

The suspect was reported to have stayed on the scene of the fire while the firefighters battled the blaze to talk to the media.

Espinoza is described as 5-foot-5-inches tall, 135 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call Detective C. Overton at 720-322-1221.

Firefighters got the call at 1:45 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, to the Corona Village Condominiums located behind the Walmart Neighborhood Market at 88th and Washington.

Six agencies helped to extinguish the blaze, including North Washington Fire District, Southwest Adams County Fire District, City of Thornton, City of Westminster, North Metro Fire Rescue and Federal Heights Fire Department.

"The initial building where the fire started is a total loss, all 12 units are gone,” said Sandy Danne, public relations with the North Washington district. “The second building has some damage, I am not sure of the extent.”

Danne said that a total of four buildings, each with 12 units, were evacuated. Residents in the two buildings that were not damaged have been allowed back inside their homes.
There were no serious injuries reported.

“Approximately three firefighters had very minor injuries, no transports at all,” Danne said.