Two boys, ages 15 and 16, were arrested in connection with the Saturday night fire that destroyed the Kewanee Boiler office, located on Franklin Street.
Police and Fire Departments and EMS responded to a 9-1-1 call of the fire at 6:08 pm, according to the police blotter.
On the scene, one witness reported seeing three teens leaving the area at the time of the fire and heading down to a house near Irving School. The police later located two teens and charged the 15-year- old with criminal trespass to property and criminal damage to property. The 16-year-old was given a notice to appear in court for criminal trespass to land.
For several hours, the KFD worked to put out the blaze. Plans had been underway by the Kewanee Preservation Society to turn the old Boiler office site into a memorial to the area workers who built the Kewanee boilers that were sold around the world.
Kewanee Boiler Company operated in Kewanee for 130 years before closing its doors in 2002.
