Accused firebug charged with lighting multiple fires including at Hotel Grand Chancellor

A man accused of starting a fire that led to the exacuation of of hotel in Melbourne’s CBD this morning has been charged with six counts of arson.

The Hotel Grand Chancellor Melbourne was evacuated after a fire broke out.

A man accused of starting multiple fires in Melbourne’s CBD this morning has been charged with arson.

One of the fires led to an evacuation of the Hotel Grand Chancellor on Lonsdale St.

The 27-year-old Roxburgh Park man allegedly started six suspicious fires within a short period of time.

Police said the first incident allegedly took place at the Hotel Grand Chancellor about 10.40am, where flames caused extensive damage to the hotel’s linen room.

More than 40 people were evacuated as a precaution.

Within a short period of time emergency services also received reports of small paper fires outside buildings on Exhibition St, Haywood Lane and Russell St.

There were no reported injuries from any of the fires.

The 27-year-old accused man was arrested in the city a short time after the fires and charged with six counts of arson and two counts of theft.

He was due to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court tonight.

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Earlier police had put out an alert saying they were hunting a male firebug following the suspiciously lit fires.