PHILLIPS – A state fire investigator said arson was the cause of a fire that caused more than $20,000 in damage to a residential and commercial building and its contents on Easter Sunday.
The fire at the Bridge Street building owned by Sean Haley of Phillips was intentionally set, state investigator Chris Stanton said Wednesday.
The fire remains under investigation, he said.
Three investigators from the State Fire Marshal’s Office were at the scene March 27 with Phillips firefighters to try to determine the cause.
They conducted interviews during the week and still are working on the case, Stanton said.
The fire extensively damaged the upper level, which was an unoccupied apartment, and the stairway of the building, Stanton said.
The first floor, which contained construction equipment, was damaged by heat and water, Phillips Fire Chief Glendon Bachelder said at the time.
More than 30 firefighters from three departments responded to the 1:37 p.m. fire at the former pool hall.
Phillips firefighter Peter Lilley was injured when he was struck in the chest by a fire hose nozzle, Bachelder said.
Lilley was taken to Franklin Memorial Hospital by AMPS Ambulance Service, was treated and released, Bachelder said.
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