Kemppainen showed no emotion as a judge read the charges in court Monday morning.

HANCOCK -- A Calumet man was arraigned in Houghton County District Court Monday morning on arson charges.  He's charged with starting the fire that took the lives of four people in Hancock last summer.

Forty-seven-year-old Ronald Kemppainen of Calumet is charged with one count of arson and four counts of murder in the deadly apartment fire that took place last July.

Kemppainen showed no emotion as a judge read the charges in court Monday morning.

Because of the serious nature of these crimes and Kemppainen's previous criminal record, no bail was set.

"We're just happy someone has been arrested," said Laurel Hoganson Maki, relative of the victims.  "We all had faith in the Hancock Police Department."

Robert MacDonald, John Hoganson, Troy Woods and Anita White were all killed in the fire at 116 Quincy Street.

The arrest came just over a week after the State Fire Marshal returned his official report to the Hancock Police.  It concluded that the fire, which started in the laundry room around 5 a.m. on July 25, was intentionally set.

"My lieutenant and the fire investigators have put in hours and hours," explained Hancock City Police Chief Mike Beaudoin.  "It's not something you can do overnight.  You're dealing with a very serious case."

Kemppainen didn't enter a plea Monday morning because district court can't accept pleas for felony cases.

A preliminary exam is set for November 16.  Until then, Kemppainen will remain in Houghton County Jail.