West Bath Woman Charged With Arson in March Fire That Destroyed Goat Barn

Grace Burnham, 38, of West Bath was arrested by the Maine State Fire Marshal's Office and charged with arson after investigators determined she set fire to a small barn on her property that was being used to house goats, according to a press release from Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss. The March 14 blaze destroyed the structure completely, though no animals were injured.

Burnham was arrested at her home and transported to Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset, where she was charged with arson, failure to report or control a dangerous fire, and animal cruelty. The animal cruelty charge reflects the risk posed to the goats that were housed in the barn at the time of the fire.

The State Fire Marshal's Office led the investigation with assistance from the Sagadahoc County Sheriff's Office and West Bath Animal Control Officer Todd Stead. The involvement of animal control in the investigation underscores the threat the fire posed to the animals on the property.

The fire occurred roughly 10 days before Burnham's arrest, giving investigators time to examine the scene and build a case before taking her into custody at her home. Two Bridges Regional Jail, located in Wiscasset, serves as the regional detention facility for Sagadahoc County and surrounding areas.

No motive has been released by the State Fire Marshal's Office, and no additional charges have been announced. It is not known whether Burnham has retained legal counsel or entered a plea. Court records in Sagadahoc County would reflect any scheduled arraignment date as the case moves forward.