By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — A local man has been charged with arson following a fire Saturday morning in a dorm room at NMCC.
Officials with the State Fire Marshal’s Office have confirmed a Presque Isle man has been charged with arson following the early-morning fire on campus in Penobscot Hall.
“Early Saturday at about 3:30 a.m., investigators from the office of the State Fire Marshall responded to the campus in Presque Isle for an arson fire which occurred in an occupied apartment in Penobscot Hall. The fire originated in a bedroom and was quickly extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system, limiting the fire damage to one room but causing significant water damage to several adjoining apartments,” said Steve McCausland, spokesperson for the Maine Department of Public Safety.
McCausland said the team of fire marshal investigators, assisted by local and college officials, reviewed available security camera footage, witness accounts and gathered additional information which led to the arrest.
“Charged with arson is Paul A. Wasson, 22, of Presque Isle. Wasson was arrested without incident at his home and transported to the Presque Isle Police Department where bail was set at $80,000 surety or $10,000 cash. Wasson was then transported to the Aroostook County Jail after failing to post bail,” McCausland said.
Wasson was scheduled to see a judge and be arraigned Monday morning.
Penobscot Hall was occupied by over a dozen students and guests at the time of the fire and all escaped without injury.
Fire marshal investigators credit the functioning sprinkler system for quickly halting the spread of fire, preventing further damage and injuries. Wasson is not a student at the college but was visiting a friend on the campus late Friday night, noted McCausland.
