LIVERMORE FALLS — Officials say a fire that damaged The Treasure Chest thrift store on Depot Street early Wednesday was intentionally set.

State fire investigators Edward Hastings IV and Chris Stanford were called to inspect the scene.

“We have determined it was an arson fire,” Livermore Falls fire Chief Gerry Pineau said.

Anyone with information about the fire, is are asked to call Livermore Falls police at 897-3424 or state fire investigators at 657-3030.

The Treasure Chest abuts the Chuck Wagon Restaurant in the same building.

About 45 firefighters from Livermore Falls, Jay, Livermore and Wilton responded to the 1:28 a.m. call of a bucket on fire in the entryway to the business, he said.

Livermore Falls police officer Eric Bernier and firefighter James Butler Jr. arrived at the scene first and used extinguishers from the cruiser and the town office to knock down flames, Pineau said.

Flames burned cedar shingles and got into the wooden overhang on the front of the building and started into the roof, Pineau said, before firefighters were able to douse them.

A plate glass window blew out because of the heat, he said. Damage was estimated to be in the thousands of dollars, he said.

Windows were boarded up and the business, owned by Kim Kardell, is closed.

The restaurant sustained some smoke damage, Pineau said.

Owner Marc Paradis said he expects to reopen in a few days, even though state fire investigators cleared it to open Wednesday. He said it was decided to close it so the repairs to The Treasurer Chest could be made.

The building is owned by Paradis’ father, Norman, Pineau said.

“I was extremely impressed with the response of the Livermore Falls Fire Department and mutual aid fire departments,” he said.

Assistant Fire Chief Ron Leclerc was commander at the scene.

 dperry@sunjournal.com