The State Fire Marshal’s Office has arrested a Wells man and charged him with setting fire to his restaurant.

Stephen McCausland, a spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety, said 57-year-old Karl Maine was arrested at his home Saturday morning and charged with arson.

Maine is accused of setting the fire that destroyed Jake’s Diner at 179 Ossipee Trail in Limington on Feb. 12.

Limington Fire Chief Michael Hartford said the fire started in the restaurant’s kitchen. The restaurant has been operated by Maine and his wife, Lynn Maine, according to the restaurant’s Facebook page.

The couple posted a message on Facebook last month vowing to rebuild the popular local eatery despite the lack of insurance.

At the time the fire started – around 5 p.m. – no one was inside. The restaurant closed at 2 p.m. on the day of the fire.

Maine was being held Monday night at York County Jail in Alfred on $10,000 cash bail.

McCausland said he does not know why Maine allegedly started the fire.


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