AUGUSTA — Firefighters quickly extinguished a fire at Capitol Computers in downtown Augusta Saturday night and police are holding a 23-year-old transient who is suspected of setting the fire.
Tyler Uehling is being held on a probation violation at the Kennebec County Correctional Facility and is suspected of arson, said State Fire Marshal Sgt. Ken Grimes. He allegedly used a lighter to set a door on fire in an alley that faces the Colonial Theater.
Firefighters got a call at 11:43 p.m. and when they arrived, smoke was visible outside the building, Augusta Fire Battalion Chief Daniel Guimond said.
Capitol Computers CEO Thomas Johnson said his wife, Karen, an accountant, was in the store finishing tax returns for clients when she smelled smoke and called the fire department. Firefighters quickly put out the fire, which caused minor damage, and then heard Uehling calling for help, Grimes said.
Uehling had several cuts from a broken window, but was not burned in the fire, he said.
To get to the area where the fire started, Uehling would have had to climb a 10-15 foot high stone wall that faces the Kennebec River, Grimes said. Once he got up there, he apparently could not get down.
“The firefighters had to cut through the basement wall and pull him into the building,” he said.
Uehling told investigators he was being chased and that he lit the fire as a “signaling device,” Grimes said.
Johnson ran several fans inside the business on Sunday to get rid of the smoky smell, but there was little fire damage. He said he’s lucky it was caught as early as it was. The business will be open today.
“I’m a lucky, lucky, lucky man,” he said. “It is a grand coincidence my wife was here and smelled smoke. I’m very sure if it had gotten any farther along, this place would have gone up. It’s a very scary situation.”
Susan Cover — 620-7015
scover@mainetoday.com
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