Maine man charged with arson for 2017 fire at Farmington general store

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Photo: Franklin County Jail

The Maine State Fire Marshal’s office has made an arrest in connection with a fire set at a Farmington business five years ago.

34-year-old Kurt Searles of Phillips was arrested without incident at his home on Friday and charged with arson for a fire at the Falls General Store in Farmington in April 2017. The store has since been demolished.

Fire investigators say they’ve been looking into the case for the past five years, but new information recently allowed the case to move forward.

Searles is being held at Franklin County Jail with bail set at $5,000.

Anyone with information about the case is being urged to contact the State Fire Marshal’s office.

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