The Penobscot Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fire at an abandoned home in Eddington that was allegedly started by a group of juveniles.
The Sheriff’s Office says they received a report shortly after 3 p.m. Wednesday that a group of juveniles were observed walking into one of two abandoned homes on Clewleyville Road in Eddington.
The two adjacent properties have been targets of vandalism in the past and have been unkept by the property owners for several years, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
A deputy sheriff alongside other deputies responded to the report, and upon arrival the deputies observed subjects fleeing into the woods from the rear of the abandoned home.
Deputies observed smoke coming from the home, and entered to locate the source of the smoke.
The Sheriff’s Office says the deputies discovered that the subjects had attempted to light a section of the home’s wall insulation on fire, damaged numerous things inside the residence, and set off fireworks inside the home.
The deputies located a 15-year-old male juvenile hiding in the basement of the home during a search, and a search of the area located additional juveniles the Sheriff’s Office says were involved in the incident.
According to the Penobscot Sheriff’s Office, the parents of the juveniles were notified of the incident and took custody of their kids.
The juveniles are being charged with crimes related to the incident and will be referred to the Juvenile Community Corrections Office, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The Maine Fire Marshall’s Office was called to the scene due to the possible attempted arson, and the Penobscot Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate the incident.