Augusta Man Charged With Setting Fire to Apartment

An Augusta man was charged today with setting a fire two weeks ago that destroyed the apartment house where he lived.  The State Fire Marshal's Office says 57-year-old Stephen Cormier is charged with arson and has been taken to the Kennebec County Jail.

Investigators said that on March 21 Cormier set fire to his living room couch inside his first floor apartment on Northern Avenue. The 4-unit apartment building was gutted by the fire and has since been torn down.

According to state police, Cormier was one of two people at home when the fire broke out. He was treated for smoke inhalation at MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta.

Waterville Police took Cormier into custody around midday at the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter in Waterville.