BAKER CITY — Three juveniles are in custody and accused of arson in the fire that destroyed Baker City’s historic Central Building on May 22.

The 108-year-old building was a total loss, and the three-story structure was demolished in July. The Oregon State Police Arson Unit was requested to assist in the fire investigation.

The investigation revealed the fire was started intentionally, according to an Aug. 30 press release from OSP. Through a detailed investigation, investigators identified three juvenile suspects. In partnership with the Baker City Police Department, Baker County Sheriff’s Office, Baker County Juvenile Department, and the Baker County District Attorney’s Office, search warrants were served, and evidence linking the three juveniles to the fire was located.

Additionally, the juveniles have been implicated in stolen firearms cases.

Police haven’t identified the suspects, or listed their ages.

Baker County District Attorney Greg Baxter said investigators used a variety of tools to identify the suspects, including social media posts and interviews.

The Baker School District hired Alpine Abatement of Redmond for $1.1 million to demolish the building, which started in early July, and deal with building materials containing asbestos.

The building site is now vacant.

The Central Building, which had exterior walls of locally quarried Pleasant Valley tuffstone, served as Baker High School from 1917-52. The building then was used for middle school classes until the school district closed it in 2009.

Baker Technical Institute had received federal grants to replace the roof, which was finished just before the fire started. The institute had planned to remove asbestos and potentially make the building available for other uses.