Arson Charges for Teens in Upstate New York Factory Fire

Authorities say two teenagers accused of setting a fire that destroyed an abandoned Mohawk Valley factory have been charged with arson.

Amsterdam police say the youths — one 13, the other 15 — lit a fire in a burn barrel in the former Eddie Brush Co. factory and told investigators they thought they’d doused it with an old fire extinguisher. The fire was reported late last Wednesday night and burned into Thursday morning, when sections of the brick building collapsed onto a street.

Several nearby houses were heavily damaged and about 50 residents had to be evacuated because of the intense heat from the fire.

No one was injured. One firefighter suffered heat exhaustion.

The teens, whose names weren’t released Tuesday, will face felony arson and criminal mischief charges in Montgomery County Family Court.