ROCKLAND – The owner of home who was arrested for arson after a fire destroyed a single-family home at 327 West Street in Rockport May 13 made her initial appearance in Knox County Court Wednesday afternoon, May 14.

Andrea Annis, 35, appeared before Judge John Martin who ruled that her bail will remain at $55,000 with no third party allowed. The judge upheld the bail amount that was set by the bail commissioner at the Knox County Jail where Annis was held since she was arrested by Rockport Police May 13.

Annis was charged with two counts of arson, refusing to submit to arrest or detention, burning without a permit, and burning prohibited materials.

According to the affidavits filed in Knox County Court by representatives from the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office, they stated that Annis had been setting several fires inside and outside the house during the last couple of weeks. They said the outside fires were all intentional and included items such as a couch, trampoline, mattress, and clothing.

A witness who discovered the fire after Annis fled the scene May 13 told one of the fire marshal investigators that he saw smoke coming from the front of the house, but the heat was too intense to enter the residence.

Because of the extent of the fire damage, the investigators were unable to determine the exact origin and cause of the house fire.

Annis is scheduled to appear in court again on July 10.

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com