A 52-year-old man was scheduled to appear in a Big Island courtroom Thursday to face a first-degree arson charge in connection with a fire on Feb. 26 at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Captain Cook.

Officers arrested Richard Paul Read, of Captain Cook, and charged him Wednesday afternoon with allegedly setting the fire that caused about $80,000 damage to the north side of the church.

Police said the fire was fully-engulfed at the north rear entrance of the church when they arrived on scene at about 6:10 a.m.

Read was being held on $15,000 bail, pending his initial court appearance.