Hudson firefighter summoned in camp arson investigation

HUDSON – An 18-year-old town firefighter was summoned Tuesday for arson in connection with a fire that destroyed a seasonal camp on Old County Road on Monday.

Charles Lawrence will make his initial court appearance May 24 in 3rd District Court in Bangor.

Evidence from the fire and from interviews led to Lawrence, said Sgt. Stewart Jacobs, fire investigations supervisor for the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

There have been other recent fires in the Hudson area that are being re-examined to see if there is a connection to Lawrence, Jacobs said Wednesday.

“The leadership of the fire department has been cooperative and has assisted us in the investigation,” Jacobs said.

Chief Larry Lilley of the Hudson Volunteer Fire Department saaid department members were “just about as shocked as it gets” to learn that one of their own had been accused of setting Monday night’s cabin fire, he said.

Lilley said he had noticed nothing suspicious before the fire, and could offer no insight into why anyone may have been motivated to set the fire.

Daily operations in the department had been straightforward until the investigation.

“Obviously this is a setback,” Lilley said, referring to the fire department’s efforts to contribute to the town.

Lilley said Lawrence has been placed on administrative leave.