WHITNEYVILLE – A fire that destroyed a house on Back Street led to the arrest of two men suspected of at least three burglaries in Washington County, officials said Sunday.

No one was injured in the 3 a.m. Saturday fire. But Sgt. Stewart Jacobs of the state Fire Marshal’s Office said it destroyed the home of William Pennell, 88, who is believed to be spending the winter out of state with his wife.

Ernie Kilton Jr., 37, and Bernard Metcalf, 34, both of Whitneyville, were charged with arson Sunday afternoon. They were being held Sunday at the Washington County Jail. Other charges are pending, authorities said.

“During our investigation, we received information about Kilton and Metcalf selling large amounts of collectibles and antiques,” Jacobs said Sunday night. “As a result, we recovered several truckloads of antiques and collectibles, including those taken from the Pennells’ home before the fire broke out.”

Lt. Michael Riggs of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department said the recovered items include property taken from the homes of Eldridge Small of East Machias and Willis Roberts of Westfield, Mass.

The houses are located next door to each other on Route 92.

The Eldridge home was burglarized on Thursday, according to authorities, but officials were unsure when the Roberts’ home was broken into. No fires were reported at either house.

Riggs said one of the suspects told officers he committed the crimes to support his drug habit.

Although no drugs were found at the Kilton home, where the two were arrested, police recovered several truckloads of antiques and collectibles, according to Jacobs.

“This case lends even more evidence to the connection between drug abuse, violent crime and property crimes,” Riggs said. “This shows how the drug problem affects everybody. One suspect admitted he stole to support a drug habit. He is very sick in jail going through withdrawal.”

Riggs said the suspect admitted using OxyContin. Abusers use the prescription drug to obtain a heroinlike high. The narcotic, prescribed to treat pain from cancer, arthritis and other illnesses, has been targeted in a number of crimes in recent months.

Officials said they are working to return property to the owners as quickly as possible. They are asking people who may have unknowingly purchased stolen property from Kilton or Metcalf in the past few weeks to contact Sgt. Frank Gardner or Sgt. Michael Crabtree at 255-4422.