Hanford Police have arrested 37-year-old Maxine Montenegro, a transient, in connection with the fire that nearly destroyed the Taoist Temple and Museum in China Alley.
On the night of May 12, a fire broke out at the historic wooden building, which dates back to the late 1870s, almost completely destroying the staircase and many of the artifacts inside.
An arson investigation began on the morning of May 13, with video camera surveillance capturing a woman lighting a fire at the temple site using what appears to be clothing, according to the Hanford Police Department.
Based on her appearance, detectives believed the woman was a transient, according to police. Detectives, with help from officers assigned to the HART Team (Homeless Assistance and Resource Team), spoke with transients that frequented the area and said they were able to identify the woman as Montenegro.