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“Following an examination of the scene, investigators determined that the fire had been intentionally set and have classified the incident as arson,” a fire official said.
Outside of the Masonic temple where it’s American flag was burned and then replaced. The office of the Maine Fire Marshal
An American flag was incinerated in a fire, then replaced at a Masonic temple before Maine fire crews arrived on scene, fire officials said.
“Following an examination of the scene, investigators determined that the fire had been intentionally set and have classified the incident as arson,” the office of the Maine Fire Marshal posted on Facebook.
On Tuesday morning, Bath firefighters arrived to the town’s historic Masonic temple for a report that its American flag had been burned, fire officials said.
The fire was already snuffed out before first responders arrived. It is “unclear” when the fire occurred, fire officials said.
The 6-foot by 10-foot American flag, typically hung over the temple’s main entrance, had been reduced to ashes. However, a replacement American flag was already zip tied to the temple’s entrance railing, fire officials said.
No members or representatives of the temple were involved with hanging the replacement flag, the Bath Fire Department posted on Facebook.
The American flag that was burnt was reduced to ashes/The Maine Fire Marshal
“During the investigation, it was discovered that an unknown individual had placed a new American flag on the fence in front of the Masonic Temple sometime after the fire occurred,” the state’s Fire Marshal said.
Investigators are searching for the person behind the replacement flag and the alleged arsonist, officials said.
Anyone with information regarding the fire is asked to contact the Maine Fire Marshal’s office by calling the arson tipline at 1-888-870-6162, or emailing [email protected], officials said.
Those with information can also call the Augusta Communications Center at 207-624-7076 and ask for a FMO investigator, officials said.
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