Maine State Police say two men have been charged with arson in connection with two separate fires in Augusta and Athens.

In Augusta, a 45-year-old man was arrested early Monday morning after a fire inside his apartment at 23 Western Ave. Larry Doyen was located on a nearby street by Augusta Police shortly after the fire was reported. A sprinkler system in the ten unit apartment house activated and kept fire damage to a minimum, but the other nine tenants had to spend the night elsewhere. Fire investigators say a cardboard box inside Doyen’s apartment had been set on fire.

In Athens, a 52-year-old man was charged with arson Friday afternoon. Dwayne Weese of Athens is charged with setting fire to a building next to his home on Vernal Huff Road. The fire damaged the building on February 28th. It had been sold by Weese’s mother to a Standish couple the day before who planned to use it as a recreational camp. Investigators say the fire started in a crawl space under the building and foot prints in the snow led to Weese’s property next door. A State Police tracking dog helped follow the footprints and the Somerset Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation. Damage to the house was minor as the fire extinguished itself.

Both men were expected in court on Monday. Doyen was taken to the Kennebec County Jail, and Weese was taken to the Somerset County Jail.