KNOXVILLE - On Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 6:23 a.m., the Knoxville Fire Department (KFD) responded to a report of smoke behind Café 4, located at 4 Market Square. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered that a small fire had occurred in a room at the rear of the building. Thanks to the activation of the building's fire sprinkler system, the fire was contained quickly, resulting in minimal damage to the exterior of the business.

Following their investigation, Knoxville Fire Investigators determined that the fire had been intentionally set. Surveillance footage from nearby cameras captured the incident, aiding investigators in identifying the suspect. Subsequently, 36-year-old Steven Paul Spencer was apprehended on Locust Street. He was charged with one count of Aggravated Arson and one count of Unlawful Drug Paraphernalia. Spencer was then transported to the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility for processing.

The prompt response by KFD and the effective sprinkler system helped prevent what could have been a more severe incident, underscoring the importance of fire safety measures and vigilant law enforcement in the community.