GRAY — The State Fire Marshal’s Office on Thursday charged a Gray man with arson when he showed up at his burned-down former home smelling of gasoline.

The fire at a mobile home on Route 26 was reported at about 2 a.m. Thursday. Police said that hours later, the suspect returned to the scene, still reeking of fuel.

Investigators arrested Paul M. “Charlie” Barry, 50, and charged him with arson and burglary. Police said Barry had been evicted from the home Dec. 1 and had been living elsewhere in Gray with a friend.

The mobile home, which was destroyed, was owned by a former friend of Barry, police said. Investigators said Barry returned to the fire scene at mid morning smelling of gasoline. He was arrested after he was interviewed by investigators from the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Later Thursday, Barry was being held without bail at the Cumberland County Jail in Portland. He is expected to make his first court appearance either Friday or Tuesday.

Fire crews from several towns battled the early-morning blaze that forced the closure of one lane of traffic on Route 26. The building was empty when it went up in flames, police said. No one was hurt.


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