Fire Marshals Investigate Two Separate ‘Intentionally Set’ Fires In Franklin And Oxford Counties

The Maine Department of Public Safety says the state's top fire officials are looking into two separate fires they say were set on purpose; one in Franklin County and one in Oxford County.

The Department's spokesperson, Shannon Moss, said the first fire was discovered just before 1 AM on Tuesday in the town of Phillips.

Firefighters there were called to a vacant home on the Dodge Road for a fully involved fire. After some investigating, Fire Marshals believe that fire was started intentionally, Moss says, based on evidence they discovered at the scene.

"Fire Marshal investigators determined the fire to be incendiary in nature. Investigators are asking residents in the surrounding area who may have security or surveillance cameras to review their footage for any activity that may be relevant to the investigation."

They're asking anyone who may have witnessed anything that evening, or who may have information about the fire to reach out to authorities.

The second fire they're looking into also occurred on Tuesday, this time in the town of Mexico, Maine, in the evening.

Moss says authorities were called to yet another vacant home just before 7:30 PM, this one on Oxford Street, where again, fire officials discovered incendiary devices, leading them to believe that fire was intentionally set.

In this case, Moss says the Fire Marshal's office is seeking the public's assistance in identifying a person of interest in the case, based off some surveillance camera  footage.

"Investigators are trying to identify an individual in still images (see attached) who may have information relevant to the investigation. They are also asking nearby residents and businesses to check their security or surveillance cameras for any activity that be relevant."

Authorities working both cases ask that if anyone does have pertinent information regarding either case, that they call the State Fire Marshal's office at (207) 624-7076