RICHMOND, Maine — A Richmond man has been charged with arson following a house fire in Richmond Thursday morning.
Shortly after 7 a.m. Thursday, fire crews responded to a house fire at 6 Arnie Dr. in Richmond, Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss said in a news release.
At the time of the fire, three people were reportedly home but were able to get out safely, Moss said. A cat did not survive the fire, Moss added.
Investigators with the Office of Maine State Fire Marshal responded to the scene where they determined that 40-year-old Robert Jolly of Richmond had started the fire in the garage, according to the release.
Moss stated that Jolly is related to the homeowners, and has since been charged with arson. He was taken to the Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset.
The Richmond Fire Department was assisted by fire departments from Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Dresden, Woolwich, Gardiner, and Topsham, as well as the Richmond Police Department, Sagadahoc County Sheriff's Office, Maine Department of Transportation, and Richmond Public Works.
Following the fire, the house was considered a total loss.