TUSCOLA — A 14-year-old boy accused of setting fire to a 100-year-old building in Villa Grove will remain locked up for at least two weeks until his next court hearing.

Douglas County Judge Michael Carroll found Wednesday that it is a matter of "immediate and urgent necessity" that the Villa Grove teen remain in custody while his delinquency case on arson and criminal damage to property charges winds its way through the legal system.

The youth was arrested Tuesday afternoon for setting a fire that destroyed the building at 10-12 S. Main St. in the Villa Grove business district on Aug. 10. No one was injured in the blaze at the abandoned building, half of which is owned by Hong Zhang of China and the other half which is owned by Jerry Clodfelder of Camargo.

Also charged Tuesday was a 9-year-old Villa Grove boy, who cannot be detained because he is too young. He will be ordered to come to court later.

Assistant Douglas County State's Attorney Kate Watson called Villa Grove Police Chief Dennis Gire to testify about the fire and what he learned from the boys in interviews done last Friday.

A witness saw two boys enter the building shortly before the fire was reported about 5:30 p.m., Gire said.

"He (the 14-year-old) told me he was with another minor in the upstairs portion of the building. The other minor lit a dryer sheet with a lighter. It started dropping balls of fire on a mattress and it got out of control quickly. They left," Gire testified.

In answer to questions by Watson, Gire said that police have had "regular" contact with the boy's family, including calls for domestic disputes. The boy's sister also has a pending juvenile case in Douglas County and the teen is currently on court supervision for burglarizing motor vehicles in Villa Grove last November.

The boy's mother and father were present for Wednesday's brief court hearing.

Asked by Carroll if they had questions, the father said: "I believe if he gets the right help, he might change. I went through the same thing. I was a troublemaker but I learned. I think putting him in juvenile hall would be a good thing but he also needs to be around family, too."

The teen's mother said he suffers from hyperactivity issues for which he's been prescribed medication in the past.

The fire, Gire testified, was "sizeable and uncontrollable" and required the help of about 18 area fire departments. The Douglas County sheriff's department and the Illinois State Fire Marshal's office also helped Villa Grove police, Gire said.

Carroll set the teen's next court date for Aug. 31. He will remain in detention in Vermilion County until then.