BIDDEFORD, Maine — The state fire marshal’s office announced Monday that a Biddeford man was arrested in connection with a fire Sunday night that damaged a two-unit apartment house on Simard Avenue.
Jason McGarey, 40, was arrested on arson and burglary charges by fire investigators and Biddeford police about 4 p.m. at his home, according to Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland.
Fire investigators said McGarey broke into the second floor apartment and set a number of fires inside, according to McCausland. He added that McGarey’s former girlfriend lived there until recently.
McGarey was taken to the Biddeford Police Department for questioning and will then be taken to York County Jail.
The owners of the Simard Avenue building, who live on the first floor, called Biddeford police Sunday night to report that they heard an intruder in the second floor apartment. When police arrived to investigate, they discovered the fire.
Investigators said there is no connection between Sunday night’s fire and the fire last week in which a young man died and another was seriously injured. That fire remains under investigation by the fire marshal and Maine State Police, McCausland said .