Investigators from the state fire marshal’s office on Monday arrested Mark Meierdirk, 51, of Orrington for allegedly intentionally setting fire to the home where he lived.
The house at 978 Brewer Lake Road, which belonged to Meierdirk’s family, was a total loss after the Jan. 30 fire.
After interviewing witnesses and reviewing financial records over several months following the blaze, the fire marshal’s office conducted a search warrant at the property to document items Meierdirk allegedly removed from the house before the fire and stored in an outbuilding on the property.
Meierdirk was charged with two counts of arson, one for causing a fire to collect insurance money, and the other for damaging or destroying the property of another person.
He was brought to Penobscot County Jail, where his bail was set at $10,000 cash.
