On Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at 2:30 p.m., the Ephrata Police Department and Ephrata area fire departments were dispatched to the first block of West Main Street, Ephrata Borough, for a dwelling fire.  Emergency responders extinguished a fire in the common wall of the second-floor hallway of the duplex.  Police interviewed neighbors and reviewed surveillance footage from nearby businesses to develop a suspect.  The property owner, Robin M. Crouse, 36, was charged with Arson.  Crouse admitted to difficulty dealing with personal problems, breaking out second floor windows in the residence and starting a fire in a metal tray as a source of heat.  When the fire spread to the wall, Crouse left the residence without notifying anyone of the fire.  Crouse is presumed innocent.