A Corinth homeowner faces charges of arson and attempted murder for an early morning fire at his house.

The State  Fire Marshall's Office says 65-year-old Fred Roberts poured gasoline inside the house and lit the fire while his longtime female companion was upstairs. 70-year-old Barbara King told investigators that she saw the flash of the fire when she woke up, but was unable to get down the stairs because of the flames. She was able to escape the burning house by jumping out a second story window. King suffered serious injuries in the fall and is being treated at Eastern Maine Medical Center.

The fire that flattened the residence was reported at around 6:00 this morning at 788 Hudson Road. Roberts was located nearby, walking along the road as firefighters arrived at the scene. He was arrested this afternoon and taken to the Penobscot County Jail.  

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