Cause of fire at Cole camp unknown

AUGUSTA — Investigators can’t determine the cause of a fire that leveled a camp owned by accused child molester Warren Cole of Gray, a spokesman for the state Fire Marshal’s Office said Wednesday.

Fire Marshal Sgt. Barry Norris said it’s likely that the weekend fire was started with some sort of “human involvement,” but investigators can’t prove whether it was accidental or intentional without additional information.

There has been speculation that the fire may have been an act of retaliation against Cole, who was charged last week with four counts of gross sexual misconduct for allegedly molesting a boy in 1986 and 1987.

Cole denies those charges, but he has admitted molesting other boys before January 1986. Prosecutors say he can’t be charged in those cases because the six-year statute of limitations has expired.

On Wednesday, investigators interviewed Cole, who said he hadn’t been in the camp on Notched Pond in Raymond since December. He said gasoline was stored at the camp for a generator.

For now, Norris said the case is closed.

“There is no way to determine the source of ignition or the point of origin of the fire,” he said. “Therefore our initial phase of investigation has been completed, unless new information comes forward.”