Three teenage girls have been charged with arson in the fire that destroyed a well-known “haunted house” in Cooks Corners.
The trio –– two from Malone and one from North Bangor –– were each charged Friday by New York State Police with one count of third-degree arson, a felony, in connection with the fire that destroyed a vacant house at 189 County Route 3 that began the previous night. The teens, whose identities were not released because of their age, were issued Family Court Appearance Tickets.
Firefighters who battled the blaze said the fire had apparently begun in the basement of the house, which had been vacant for many years. The wooden structure burned down to the stone foundation.
The Franklin County Cause and Origin Team had been called to the scene even before the fire was extinguished.