Anniston police have charged a man with arson, after several small fires were started Tuesday night inside an empty home on Walnut Avenue.

Police charged Ernest Lavon Hall, 25, of Anniston, with second-degree arson. Investigators found Hall in a home across the street from the fire on the 1600 block of Walnut Avenue within minutes of firefighters extinguishing the flames, said Anniston police Lt. Fred Forsythe. No motive for the arson had been established as of this morning, he said.

Anniston fire Lt. Bryan Tumlin said the fire began around 10 p.m. When firefighters arrived on the scene, a small fire had been set outside the home, and smaller fires were burning inside. Tumlin said it was unclear how the fire had begun, but there were several candles and burned pieces of paper in the home.

According to a police report, the inside of the home burned in the fire. The house was unoccupied and no one was inside at the time of the fire.

Tumlin said only 25 gallons of water were needed to extinguish the flames, and firefighters had completely put out the fire within 10 minutes.

Hall was being held at the Anniston City Jail this morning. No bond or court date had been set. Forsythe said police and fire department officials are still investigating the incident.

Staff writer Brian Anderson: 256-235-3546. On Twitter @BAnderson_Star.