A man and a teen has been charged in Springfield arson fire

Twenty-four-year-old Richard L. Thomas of Springfield and a 17-year-old boy were charged Wednesday with arson and criminal damage to property in connection with a fire at the abandoned Pillsbury Mills factory. 

The State Journal-Register in Springfield reports police and firefighters battled the fire on Nov. 30.  The building was deemed unsafe to enter, so crews fought the fire from outside and a stairwell. 

The 18-acre plant has been vacant since 2001.  There have been complaints of criminal activity, trespassing and piles of debris on plant grounds. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began a nearly $2 million asbestos cleanup of the site in 2017. 

It wasn’t immediately known if Thomas or the teen have legal representation.