LEWISTON (AP) — Gov. Paul LePage had harsh words on Tuesday for two boys accused of setting two of three major fires downtown but offered no promises of assistance for more than 180 people displaced from their homes.

LePage, who took a look at the fire damage in Lewiston, said those responsible “should be put away.” He said he’s familiar with the buildings and the neighborhood from his youth, during which he was homeless for a time. He said he believes the boys, both 12, are old enough to know what they were doing and should be punished “to the fullest extent of the law,” the Sun Journal reported.

The three fires, over a week, destroyed nine buildings and damaged several more. No deaths or major injuries were reported among people who had been living in the buildings, but a police officer who ran into one of the burning buildings suffered a leg injury.

It remains to be seen whether the boys will be tried as adults or juveniles. For now, they’re detained in the juvenile system, and investigators are continuing to try to determine the cause of the third fire.

About 100 firefighters converged early Monday to battle that blaze, which destroyed two vacant apartment buildings and damaged a third building.

The fires, all within a few block of each other, put residents on edge.

“People go to bed wondering, ‘Is our apartment next?’” said Jenn Ahlberg, who lives a few blocks from Monday’s fire.

The Red Cross has stepped in to provide assistance to the displaced residents, but LePage, a Republican, didn’t bring with him any promises of special state aid.

“If there’s discretionary funding — I’ve been there a little more than two years, and I haven’t found any,” he told reporters.

LePage’s office later acknowledged that his contingency fund has $282,000 and he doesn’t intend to tap it.

The governor focused on paying legal services for those who couldn’t afford it last year and has spent $18,000 this year to expand electronic monitoring of people charged with domestic abuse, spokeswoman Adrienne Bennett said.

Legislative leaders from Lewiston pressed the governor to provide emergency aid.

“The Legislature created the governor’s contingency fund for emergency scenarios just like this,” said Rep. Peggy Rotundo, a Democrat.