As a result of an investigation into the cause of a fire that heavily damaged Home Central, members of the Vestal Police Detective Division have arrested Richard Millard on March 20, charging him with Arson in the Second Degree, a Class B Felony.
Millard, 50, of Vestal and an employee of Home Central at the time of the fire, was arraigned in Broome County Court and remanded to the Broome County jail.
On Thursday February 13 at approximately 1:40 p.m., the Vestal Fire & Police Departments responded to a fire at the Home Central Store at 199 Stage Road in the Town of Vestal. At the time of the fire, the location was occupied by employees and patrons, who were all able to exit the building safely.
The fire caused extensive damage to the warehouse portion of the store, culminating in a complete loss of the warehouse and its contents. Due to the work of the firefighters, the retail portion of the store was relatively undamaged and suffered only minor smoke damage.
Members of the Vestal Fire Department were assisted at the scene by Vestal Police Department, Vestal Ambulance, Endicott Fire Department, West Corners Fire Department, Endwell Fire Department, Town of Binghamton Fire Department, Five Mile Point Fire Department, Broome County Sheriff’s Office, Broome County Office of Emergency Services Fire Coordinators, Broome County Bureau of Fire Investigation, and NYSEG.
A joint investigation into the cause of the fire was initiated by the Broome County Bureau of Fire Investigation and the Detective Division of the Vestal Police Department along with the Broome County District Attorney’s Office.
