Charges dismissed in apartment fire

A charge of first-degree attempted arson has been dismissed against a Jefferson City man in connection with a November 2011 fire at the Mulberry Street Apartments.

Prosecutors did not say why the charge against Don Salcedo, 42, of 813 Mulberry St. was dismissed.

Authorities claimed Salcedo was seen on security cameras on all three floors of the building at 615 Mulberry and at one point used a lighter to ignite an item and walked out of the building before the fire broke out.

The fire caused an estimated $500,000 damage, left 20 people needing shelter, sent three people to local hospitals to be treated for smoke inhalation and required firefighters to rescue a number of tenants from their apartments as they battled the blaze.