SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A 47-year-old man has been charged with starting a Christmas Day fire that destroyed a vacant building in Mission Valley, once home to the popular country-western bar, InCahoots Dance Hall and Saloon.
Joel Humphrey was arraigned Friday afternoon at the downtown San Diego courthouse, where he pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of reckless burning of a structure.
Prosecutors allege Humphrey admitted to accidentally starting the fire while attempting to smoke drugs inside the vacant building. Surveillance video from a neighboring business allegedly showed Humphrey leaving the building shortly before the fire erupted.
Firefighters who responded to the blaze were met with heavy smoke and intense flames, forcing them to stay a safe distance.
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InCahoots, which closed in 2018, held a special place in the hearts of former patrons, many of whom expressed sadness over its destruction.
“It’s just really sad,” said Al Cacas, a former customer. “A lot of people had so much fun there.”