Former
employee charged with fire at mill
By Ann Duble
Contributing Writer
THURMONT,
Md. – A former employee was charged with a fire that caused
an estimated $200,000 damage to the Thurmont Cooperative, Inc.,
Jan. 1.
William
L. Coats, a 38-year-old Thurmont resident, was charged with
second degree arson, malicious burning, burglary, theft and
attempt to burn. Coats is incarcerated at the Frederick County
Detention Center in lieu of a $95,000 bond.
Over
55 firefighters responded to the New Year’s Day 10:37
p.m. blaze and controlled the fire in one hour. There were
no firefighter or civilian injuries.
Damage
occurred in the offices, storage areas and to some grinding
equipment, said Steve Moles, controller at the mill.
Moles
said the mill has been operating daily since the fire with
help from other mills.
“We
are still able to serve customers with minimal delay and interruption,”
he said.
Deputy
State Fire Marshals, assisted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Explosives and Firearms determined the fire was deliberately
ignited in several areas of the building located at 36 Walnut
Street.
Investigators
linked the suspect to the fire through evidence from the scene
in conjunction with witness interviews. Although an exact
motive has not been established, the suspect was a former
employee of the business and was involved in an ongoing dispute
with management over pay.
Moles
said Coats was hired at the facility in late summer of 2005
and later filed for workmen’s compensation. The reason
he filed was not revealed.
Moles
said it is too early to say when the mill would be fully operational,
but said it is open and continues to serve customers.
Note:
Some information included from a Maryland State Fire Marshal
News Release.
