Arson suspected in Norway fires

Photo: Chuck Blaquiere

SUSPECTED ARSON — A fire that began in a back stairwell of a boarding house on King Street in Norway is currently being investigated by the Maine Fire Marshal's Office as arson. Norway Police Chief Robert Federico said that about an hour before the call was made about a mattress burning in the stairwell, passersby reported that they noticed a blanket on fire in the same stairwell and put it out.

NORWAY — A fire in a boarding house at 7 King Street Saturday night that was set not once, but twice, is being investigated as arson. 

Norway Police Chief Robert Federico reported that a credible suspect has been found.

"Both fires were located in the same place in the stairway," he said. "So we obviously believe they are related, and more likely than not, the same person would be the one to do them both."

Saturday night around 10 p.m., a call came into the Norway Police Department that someone had set a blanket on fire in the back stairwell of the boarding house. The fire was noticed by witnesses and put out immediately, reported Federico.

"Witnesses saw a person enter the rear of the building about 15 minutes before the fire started," he said.

About an hour later, he said, another call came in that a mattress was burning in the same stairwell. Paris Police Officer Nate Bowie and Norway Police Officer Jim Ventresca were first to arrive on scene.

According to Norway Fire Chief Dennis Yates, when the officers arrived to the fire at about 11:30 p.m. they pulled the burning mattress from the entrance of the building and proceeded to get everyone out. He said they had extinguished the fire, but when Bowie went to the second floor to search for trapped residents, the fire had rekindled.

Bowie then ran back downstairs to assist Ventresca with putting out the fire, which was blocking the entrance out of the building. 

Both officers are being credited for putting themselves in danger to save lives and the boarding house building. In addition, about 50 firefighters and emergency personnel from Norway, Paris, Oxford, Waterford and Poland responded to ensure the house was ventilated and that the flames were out.

Both officers were treated and released from Stephens Memorial Hospital for smoke inhalation.

Federico confirmed that both officers are "recovering just fine." He said that Ventresca was expected to go back to work and continue his normal schedule on May 9.

According to Federico, the blaze is currently being investigated by the Maine Fire Marshal's Office.

"They've got some evidence to sort through, and some witness statements to sort though," he said. "They had a couple folks that they had to verify some information [with], and I believe they've been able to do that."

Photo: Chuck Blaquiere