Two Men Charged with Arson for Fires in Augusta, Athens

The State Fire Marshal's Office has charged two men with arson for separate fires in Augusta and in Athens.

Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland says 45-year-old Larry Doyen was arrested in Augusta. He's accused of allegedly setting a fire inside his apartment at 23 Western Avenue on Sunday. No one was hurt and the fire was kept to a minimum by a sprinkler system in the 10-unit apartment house. However, nine other tenants had to spend the night elsewhere. Doyen was found on a nearby street by Augusta Police shortly after the fire was reported. Investigators say a cardboard box inside the man's apartment had been set on fire.

In Athens, a 52-year-old man was charged with arson after allegedly setting fire to a building next to his home on Vernal Huff Road. The day before the fire, officials say Dwayne Weese's mother had sold the building to a Standish couple, who planned to use it as a recreational camp. On February 28th, a fire was started in a crawl space under the building, and footprints in the snow led to Weese's property next door. Damage to the residence was minor as the fire extinguished itself.

Both men were expected to appear in court on Monday. Doyen was taken to the Kennebec County Jail and Weese was transported to the Somerset County Jail.