The state fire marshal’s office says three boys from Sanford have been charged with arson in connection with this weekend’s massive fire that destroyed the abandoned Stenton Trust Mill over the weekend in Sanford.
Investigators said one of the boys is 12 years old and the other two are 13. They were taken to the Long Creek juvenile detention facility in South Portland.
Sanford Fire Chief Steve Benotti said the three boys were lucky to get out of the building. He said children setting fires has been a substantial problem in Maine and across the country.
“It comes from a number of things, a fascination with fire and a host of other things but, in this case, I think these people thought they were used to doing some things and I don’t know if got away from them but it’s still quite rampant,” he said.
Fire Marshall Joe Thomas said no accelerant was used in the fire, which started on the third floor.
The fire marshal’s office had initially said two homeless men who had been staying inside the building were unaccounted for. However, they have since been found safe in Portland.
Maine Public interns Jill Baker and Belle Fall contributed to this report.
