Investigators made a quick arrest Monday in connection with a suspicious fire that burned down the old headquarters of the now-defunct Grants Pass Rural Fire Department.

Brandon S. Gildard, 31, was taken into custody Monday afternoon and lodged in jail on suspicion of first-degree arson. Authorities said Gildard was known to stay at the house, located at 323 S.E. G St. near the downtown Safeway.

Lt. Joe Hyatt, fire marshal for the Department of Public Safety, said an officer with the department who was in the area called in the single-story structure fire just before noon.

Hyatt said engines arrived within two minutes of the call, and that the fire was farther along than they would normally see, considering how quick the response was.

Firefighters arrived to find the building fully involved with windswept flames extending across Ninth Street threatening surrounding buildings. An aggressive external fire attack with large hoses was conducted while surrounding streets were closed.

“We did a primary search of the building and it didn’t appear anyone was in it, but we’ll be searching again,” said Hyatt.

The flames were shooting out of the windows, and massive gray clouds filled the sky, soon turning black as firefighters battled the blaze.

The fire was under control within 30 minutes of the initial report. The building is considered a total loss.

The building once served as the headquarters for Grants Pass Rural Fire and more recently was occupied by one or more residential tenants. Grants Pass Rural was a private fire protection company that merged with Rural/Metro Fire in 2014.

Lisa Morgan was styling a client’s hair at Connie’s Hair Design at Ninth and H streets just before noon Monday when she turned to look out the window.

“There were flames licking out the window,” she said, pointing to the structure across the parking lot.

“I called 911 and they were here immediately,” said Morgan.

While Morgan and her clients watched, someone climbed out a window of the burning building and headed south on foot.

There were no injuries to firefighters or the public.

The American Red Cross reported it assisted one adult who was affected by the fire, addressing immediate needs such as housing, food and clothing.

A small cabover camper pickup and an older white sedan were parked next to the structure, and received a little heat damage but were spared direct contact with the flames.

This is the second fire at a former GP Rural building in three days.

Firefighters responded to a small fire at the former station in Merlin Saturday evening. Damage was confined mostly to the entrance door, according to a spokesperson for Rural/Metro Fire Department.

According to the County Assessor’s Office, the building at Ninth and G was owned by Richard Howard and Yukiko Endo, who also own nearby Musashi restaurant.

It was a busy morning for firefighters, who responded to a travel trailer explosion just before 5:30 Monday morning in Northwest Grants Pass.

The occupant of the trailer suffered burns to 40 percent of his body and was transported to Legacy Oregon Burn Center in Portland.

Authorities said the fire started after the man attempted to light a cigarette at the same time burners on the propane stove were in the ‘On’ position.