TOWN OF YORKSHIRE – State Police have arrested three teens in connection with a fire at a vacant Ames store in the Ames Plaza on Routes 16 and 39 in the town of Yorkshire in Cattaraugus County.

Fire departments from Yorkshire, Delevan, Chaffee-Sardinia fought the blaze on Saturday with the assistance of numerous other area fire departments.

The plaza is home to the Save-A-Lot, Dollar General and Valu Home Center. 

An investigation conducted by the New York State Police in Machias and the Cattaraugus County Fire Investigation Team led to the arrests of a 17-year-old male, a 14-year-old female and an 11-year-old male. The suspects were trespassing inside the vacant store and a fire was started which quickly grew out of control.

Casey Gilcrease, 17, of Yorkshire was charged with arson in the fourth degree, criminal trespass in the third degree, reckless endangerment of property and petit larceny.

He was arraigned and remanded to the Cattaraugus County Jail on $1,500 bail.

The 14-year-old was charged and issued a Cattaraugus County Family Court appearance ticket for Arson 4th, Criminal Trespass 3rd, Reckless Endangerment of Property, Making Graffiti and Petit Larceny.

The 11-year-old was also issued a Cattaraugus County Family Court appearance ticket for Criminal Trespass 3rd and Petit Larceny.

No one was injured in the fire. The inside of the vacant store including the roof and ceiling sustained damage. The extent and dollar amount is still under investigation.