On Saturday, June 12th, 2021, at approximately 4:30 pm, the Turlock Fire Department received a call of a potential structure fire at 10 East Kitchen and Tap House located at 10 E Main St. The caller reported that there was a small fire that was set underneath an old train car used for restaurant seating. The Turlock Fire Department’s Battalion 4, Engine 31, Squad 32, and Engine 34 were dispatched.
The fire was put out by staff prior to crews’ arrival. The Turlock Police Department was requested to respond and investigate the incident as an arson since multiple witnesses had seen a man intentionally lighting the fire. A description of the man was provided and officers began searching for him.
A short time later, officers located a man in the area matching the description, later identified as Raman Kumar, 30 of Modesto. Kumar was detained and taken to witnesses to see if they could positively identify him as the man who started the fire. Witnesses did confirm that it was Kumar, and Kumar was arrested and booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center on one charge of arson on an inhabited structure.
