Fire Marshal makes arrest in Presque Isle fire
11/16/09 | 24 comments

Fire Marshal makes arrest in Presque Isle fire


PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PRESQUE ISLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Presque Isle Fire Department fought a fire at a warehouse on Rice Street, responding to it just before 10 p.m. Friday. The building stored large rolls of paper and polyurethane for printing and drums of ink, solvents and a large propane tank.

AUGUSTA — Investigators from the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office have determined the large fire at the Northeast Packaging Company storage facility on Rice Street, in Presque Isle to be arson.

The fire destroyed a bag warehouse owned by Northeast Packaging Co., a large, metal facility where paper and plastic bags are stored.

The fire which occurred at approximately 21:58 on Nov. 13, destroyed the approximately 150’ x 300’ metal structure and its contents, according to the fire marshal’s office. Firefighters from six communities were on the scene of the major fire for more than 13 hours.

A joint investigation by the Presque Isle Fire Department, Presque Isle Police Department, an Evidence Recovery Technician from the Maine State Police and the State Fire Marshal’s Office led to the arrest midday Sunday of Timothy MacFarline, 23 years old of Easton.

Senior Investigator Tim Lowell of the State Fire Marshal’s Office made the arrest after the collection of evidence from the scene and witnesses statements. MacFarline was taken to the Presque Isle Police Department for booking and was later transported to the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton. Lowell attrib-uted the success of the investigation to the cooperative efforts of all agencies involved, but he is not re-leasing specific details as the investigation is still ongoing.

Presque Isle Deputy Fire Chief Rich Wark said this weekend that the fire was difficult to fight in that it “had a very large fire load. There were rolls of paper and plastic and barrels of ink and alcohol solvent inside the warehouse.”

Wark said the fire was reported just before 10 p.m. Friday. When firefighters arrived moments later, fire was visible throughout the rear of the building and was starting to burn through the roof.

“We were definitely in defense mode,” Wark said. Firefighters were forced to fight the blaze from out-side. Key to the attack was the department’s ladder gun with an elevated stream.

“The barrels with the alcohol were what concerned us the most,” Wark said. By venting the roof and concentrating on those barrels, Wark said the fire was kept away from them.

Wark said the warehouse, which measured 150 feet by 300 feet, was destroyed.

Firefighters were still on the scene at noon Saturday, using an excavator to remove rolls of paper that were on fire. “The metal roof collapsed on top of the rolls, and the excavator is pulling them apart so we can extinguish them,” Wark said.

Two investigators from the State Fire Marshal’s Office, Tim York and Tim Lowell, were at the scene Saturday, attempting to determine the fire’s cause.

Wark said at least 50 firefighters from Caribou, Mapleton, Mars Hill, Presque Isle, and the Aroostook Fire Protection District (Fort Fairfield and Limestone) fought the blaze. There were no injuries

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Comments
24 comments on this item
On 11/16/09 at 12:45 PM, nwayne wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

What was this guy thinking? He has pretty much written off half of his life. Felony Arson carries a sentence of up to 40 years in Maine.

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On 11/16/09 at 12:54 PM, wallyo wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

My theory is that he wasn't thinking

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On 11/16/09 at 1:07 PM, AMomsOpinion wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Wonder what his REASON was for doing it? did he work there? do it just for fun? a dare? is he a pyromaniac? Either way he just handed over his life for the State of Maine to take care of for years. That is what I dislike about crime...us hardworking taxpayers have to pay for his butt to be taken care of in jail, while he has 3 meals a day, tv, internet, gym, clean clothes, library time, etc & so on...................... :(

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On 11/16/09 at 2:20 PM, Hoplite wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I am pretty sure he did work there and their Caribou facility burned a few months ago. That might be why they were so quick to arrest him. There is going to be a lot more to this story.

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On 11/16/09 at 2:30 PM, HarryHSnyderIII wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Some years ago, there was an arsonist arrested in Lubec after a series of fires. He was asked "Why" His response was he never set a fire for which he was not paid. As we send more and more of our factory and warehouse jobs to china, there will be increasing amounts of arson for hire jobs.

It is amazing this guy was caught, you almost have to catch someone with a can of Kero, and a lit match to get a conviction.... Unless they have a confession.

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On 11/16/09 at 3:25 PM, nwayne wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I'm not sure of how true this is, but I hear there was video surveilance around the building.

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On 11/16/09 at 3:35 PM, ataloss wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

YOU GET MORE TIME FOR SETTING FIRE OR SHOOTING OUT OF SEASON MOOSE IN MAINE THAT YOU DO KILLING SOMEONE....

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On 11/16/09 at 5:50 PM, redsox21grl wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

The news is saying he was a full time PAID firefighter for PI!!

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On 11/16/09 at 5:53 PM, ElectraGlide wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Now Harry<>always thinking outside the box

good one maybe<

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On 11/16/09 at 6:36 PM, PabMainer wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

redsox21grl I heard the same report that this guy is indeed a firefighter....obviously if true, then very disturbing but certainly not unheard of....some studies show that a characteristic of firefighter arsonists is that they can be relatively young and in the first three years of their occupation....many fire depts. have recognized that they need to look at their new recruits with this in mind but the same reports state the younger dept. members are not exclusive for this troubling behavior....certainly a blessing that no one was injured and tragic the loss of property....hopefully he can get appropriate help if needed and as necessary.....

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On 11/16/09 at 7:16 PM, firestorm51 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

redsox21grl,, he was a paid call firefighter,which is basically a volunteer,NOT a full ltime firefighter but the news also stated that he did in fact work there , sounds like he had a grudge against his employer, the fact that he WAS a call firefighter is just a coincidence. he had only been on the fire dept about 2 years,and was promptly suspended.

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On 11/16/09 at 7:22 PM, Kerry1963 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

That news is correct he not only works for the P.I.F.D. he also works for Northeast Packaging Company. Sounds like someone with issues such as a disgruntled employee.

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On 11/16/09 at 7:29 PM, e2346437 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I have to wonder if he's responsible for the warehouse fire in Washburn just last week.

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On 11/16/09 at 7:41 PM, leumas wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Sometimes firefighters make overtime work for themselves.

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On 11/16/09 at 8:08 PM, concernedparents wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Don't be so quick to judge unless you have been in their shoes.

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On 11/16/09 at 9:25 PM, captainandy wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

HarryHSnyderIII wrote; "As we send more and more of our factory and warehouse jobs to china, there will be increasing amounts of arson for hire jobs. "

"As we send"? Harry where have you been for the last decade?

Those jobs are long gone and "your arson for hire prediction" didn't come true.

You're the exception to the "Hindsight is 20/20" rule.

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On 11/16/09 at 9:27 PM, captainandy wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

What ever happened to the "disgruntled employee" who simply........ quits?

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On 11/16/09 at 10:31 PM, soccer12G wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

wow...i love how everyone just eats up what the media puts out there for the mindless zombies known as the general american public...this is an "ongoing investigation" if you people knew anything you would know that the fire chiefs didnt want to do more than suspend him but the city of PI overruled the decision to save the wonderful public image of PI...wait until everything comes out before saying anything or at least know what went on and not what the media says right away

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On 11/17/09 at 6:43 AM, nwayne wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I hope he likes orange. It's too bad he has ruined his life at such an early age. Hopefully he can get some help by the time he gets out of prison.

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On 11/17/09 at 7:53 PM, megchassy wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Wow is all I have to say... I went to school with him... Thanks for serving and protecting us!!

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On 11/17/09 at 8:30 PM, coldbarnocker wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

He must have been on call that night, I think his hair got singed.....

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On 11/17/09 at 8:55 PM, blurford97 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I''m blown away by the news... I went to school with him as well and it is a shocker to see that he did such a thing. I would have never knew he would do anything like this. I feel bad for his little girl that is a little over a year old.

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On 11/18/09 at 9:03 AM, MaggieMae wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
On 11/18/09 at 9:06 AM, MaggieMae wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

The Presque Isle Police and Fire Department should be more concerned with linking this man to other recent fires in the area, and not so concerned with protecting their imagine. Instead, let a sick man go free on bail to cause more destruction. tax payer dollars again hard at work.

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