SKOWHEGAN — A fire Monday morning in the basement of a vacant house on Silver Street was arson, the state Fire Marshal’s Office said Tuesday.

Evidence from the house at the corner of Madison Avenue has been sent to the state police crime lab in Augusta, said Sgt. Kenneth Grimes of the Fire Marshal’s Office. Interviews have been conducted, but no suspects have been identified, he said.

“It was an intentionally set fire that caused minimal damage to the building,” Grimes said.

Grimes said he would not reveal details of how the fire was set until the investigation has been completed. The 7:15 a.m. fire brought two Skowhegan police detectives and three firetrucks to the scene.

Police said Monday that the fire appeared to be of suspicious origin. Black smoke damage was visible around the cellar windows, exterior dryer vents and along the sill.

The single story home at 9 Silver St., is between Franklin Savings Bank and the Skowhegan/Madison Elks Lodge at the edge of a largely commercial area of Skowhegan, just north of the downtown business district.

The house was for rent and unoccupied for a couple of weeks, said owner Walter Hight.

Hight said Monday that the house had recently undergone kitchen and bathroom renovations.

Doug Harlow — 612-2367

dharlow@centralmaine.com

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