Boarding home hit by 4th fire Resident of facility in Machias charged

MACHIAS – The 34 residents of Marshall Manor boarding home were moved temporarily to a nearby church Monday after a fourth fire in three days and an inspection that identified deficiencies in the building’s electrical and fire alarm systems.

No one was injured in the fires, which took place in three bathrooms and a beauty salon in the three-story wooden building, according to Sgt. Stewart Jacobs of the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Jacobs said staff from the Fire Marshal’s Office have been on the scene since Saturday when they arrested Robert Wakefield, 65, a resident of the home, on a charge of arson in connection with two fires on Saturday morning. Both of those fires were extinguished by staff, he said.

A suspect has been identified in connection with the fires that took place Sunday and Monday mornings, and that investigation is continuing, he said. Sunday morning’s fire was extinguished by Machias firefighters and staff put out Monday morning’s fire, he said.

Jacobs said the boarders were expected to return to Marshall Manor on Monday evening, and two Machias firefighters will patrol the facility throughout the night.

The Machias Fire Department began a fire watch at the facility Sunday and will continue the patrols until the fire alarm system is updated, he said.

Jacobs said the state Department of Human Services, which licenses the 40-bed boarding care facility, is expected to conduct a site evaluation Wednesday.

A condition of Marshall Manor’s license is that the facility meet the fire marshal’s life-safety code. An inspection of the facility on Sunday revealed serious violations, he said.

Jacobs said the inspector identified significant electrical issues, problems with the fire alarm system, and the need for the facility to re-evaluate residents individually to determine their ability to escape the building.

The Fire Marshal’s Office and administrators have agreed on an interim plan to address the deficiencies, but Marshall Manor will have to develop a corrective plan that meets with the approval of both the Fire Marshal’s Office and DHS, he said.

“This is a very serious situation,” Jacobs said.

Marshall Manor is owned by Bernard Davis Jr. of St. George. Davis could not be reached at his home or Rockland office on Monday afternoon.

Jacobs said Wakefield is expected to make an initial appearance on the arson charge today in Bangor District Court. It will be heard in Bangor because no judge is available in Machias.