WINDHAM – The state fire marshal’s office has ruled Friday’s fire at a triple-unit apartment building next to Corsetti’s Market on Gray Road in Windham Center as an arson.

The only question now, investigators say, is who caused the arson and whether the arson was also an attempt on the life of the building’s owner, Donato Corsetti.

According to senior investigator Chris Stanford, the office is working to determine who set the fire, which started in an unoccupied middle unit. Corsetti was found bound inside the building and was rescued by first responders.

Stanford said the investigation is continuing to determine whether Corsetti started the fire himself and got caught up while trying to escape or whether he was bound by someone else who then set the fire and left the building.

Stanford said the fire marshal’s office is working with Windham Police interviewing anyone who had associations with Corsetti, Corsetti’s Store as well as the apartment building, which Corsetti has owned since 1987, according to Windham property tax records. The building, which is assessed at $521,900, was foreclosed upon by Green Tree Servicing on Nov. 19, according to Cumberland County Registry of Deeds.

Stanford said he is also looking into previous fires at Corsetti’s Store as well as another building Corsetti owns located directly behind the apartment building.

In addition to Corsetti, who was in the middle unit, two adult women and a baby were in the rear unit of the building at the time of the blaze. The other residents were able to escape unharmed. Corsetti, who was taken to Maine Medical Center, has been interviewed twice by investigators, Stanford said.

Class A arson, according to Stanford, carries a maximum of 30 years in prison.

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