AUBURN — A teenage volunteer firefighter charged with arson in connection with a Mechanic Falls fire last week appeared in court Thursday.

Joshua Michaud, 18, of Mechanic Falls, remained free on $500 cash bail when he made his initial appearance at Androscoggin County Superior Court.

Bail conditions include staying away from 68 Maple St., the address of the Loose Caboose Restaurant and Lounge, which sustained $30,000 in damages from a fire last week.

Michaud also was ordered to take his medications as prescribed and not to use or have incendiary devices.

He was released last week from Androscoggin County Jail after posting bail.

Michaud was a member of the Minot Volunteer Fire Department.

He was charged after state fire investigators spent about seven hours combing the fire scene for clues.

He is scheduled to return to Androscoggin County Superior Court on Sept. 2 for his arraignment, at which time he’s expected to enter a plea on the charge.

Prosecutors likely will present Michaud’s case to an Androscoggin County grand jury next month in an effort to seek an indictment on the arson charge.