PRENTISS TOWNSHIP — The State Fire Marshal’s Office arrested a man early Wednesday morning after a fire investigator’s car was set on fire near the man’s home.

 John Weckerly, 53, who lives about a half mile from the fire scene was charged with arson, according to a press release issued by Stephen McCausland, the spokeman for the Maine Department of Public Safety

“The fire destroyed the state-owned vehicle of Fire Marshal Sgt. Timothy York, who had parked the 2009 Chevrolet Impala off  Aurora Road, while he and two other investigators were conducting a follow up investigation into three arson fires in the area over the past 10 months,” the release stated.

York returned to his car at about 12:30 a.m. to find it had been set ablaze by a flammable liquid, the release stated. The car, along with a number of personal items of York’s inside it were destroyed by the blaze.

A team of fire investigators, Maine State Police troopers, game wardens and Penobscot Sheriff’s deputies went to the fire scene to assist in the aftermath of the car  fire .

According to the release, a State Police dog was used and followed a scent trail leading to Weckerly’s property.Weckerly was arrested at his home without resistance and charged with arson. He was then taken to the Penobscot County Jail.

The prior fires, that brought investigators to the town last night, damaged a garage and a seasonal camp. The fires were set at the garage in November of 2010 and again on July 3, 2011. The camp fire was reported on July 20. The investigation into those fires continues, the release stated.