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Maryland State Fire Marshal

Burglar Alarm Wakes Darlington Man To Find Massive Garage Blaze Instead: Fire Marshal Burglar Alarm Wakes Darlington Man To Find Massive Garage Blaze Instead: Fire Marshal
Burglar Alarm Wakes Darlington Man To Find Massive Garage Blaze Instead: Fire Marshal A roaring overnight blaze tore through a garage in Maryland, lighting up the dark sky and leaving behind a smoldering wreckage of machinery, tools, and farm equipment. The fire broke out around 1:45 a.m. Monday, March 16, at a property on Castleton Road in Darlington, Harford County, investigators with the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office said. What started as a burglar alarm quickly turned into something far more serious. The owner’s adult son — who lives on the property — was alerted by the alarm and went to investigate. When he checked the building, he discovered flames burning insi…
Maryland Explosion: Mailbox Destroyed By Incendiary Device, Fire Marshal Says Maryland Explosion: Mailbox Destroyed By Incendiary Device, Fire Marshal Says
Maryland Explosion: Mailbox Destroyed By Incendiary Device, Fire Marshal Says An explosion shattered the quiet along a rural Maryland road after someone planted and detonated an incendiary device inside a residential mailbox, investigators said. An explosive device was intentionally placed inside a mailbox on the 13700 block of Gregg Neck Road in Galena, on Saturday, Jan. 4, around 9:30 p.m., according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office. The device detonated inside the mailbox, blowing apart the box and its post, officials said. The blast caused an estimated $80 in damage, but sent shockwaves through the neighborhood. No one was injured, and no residents we…
'By God's Grace': Smoke Alarms Save Edgewood Woman, Pets As $350K Blaze Destroys Home 'By God's Grace': Smoke Alarms Save Edgewood Woman, Pets As $350K Blaze Destroys Home
'By God's Grace': Smoke Alarms Save Edgewood Woman, Pets As $350K Blaze Destroys Home Smoke detectors may have saved the lives of a woman and her family's pets, but it will be a long time until they can move back into their Maryland home. Scott and Karen Zissimos were displaced by an early-morning fire that could have ended even more tragically after a fast-moving kitchen fire spread to the rest of the Edgewood home. Crews were called around 5:58 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, to a one-story home on Kennard Avenue, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal. Investigators said the fire started in the kitchen after a food dehydrator failed.  The blaze spread quickly, but a…
Tractor-Trailer Parts Ignite Blaze That Scorches Acre In Maryland: Fire Marshal (PHOTOS) Tractor-Trailer Parts Ignite Blaze That Scorches Acre In Maryland: Fire Marshal (PHOTOS)
Tractor-Trailer Parts Ignite Blaze That Scorches Acre In Maryland: Fire Marshal (Photos) What started as a pile of tractor-trailer parts turned into a fireball that scorched an acre of land in Allegany County, fire officials said. The blaze broke out around 3:05 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14, in the 17400 block of Breakneck Road in Flintstone, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal. Investigators said the homeowner had pulled the engine out of a 1997 Freightliner the day before and set it next to a pile of mechanical parts and the truck cab.  By the next afternoon, black smoke was rising — and flames were chewing through the pile. The fire spread quickly, torching approxim…
Fatal Maryland Fires Five Miles Apart Leave Elderly Couple, Child Dead In Same Week: Officials Fatal Maryland Fires Five Miles Apart Leave Elderly Couple, Child Dead In Same Week: Officials
Fatal Maryland Fires Five Miles Apart Leave Elderly Couple, Child Dead In Same Week: Officials A second deadly house fire in Wicomico County in less than a week has claimed the lives of an elderly couple, investigators announced. The Maryland State Fire Marshal said crews were called around 2:10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 5, to the 1300 block of Middleneck Drive in Salisbury, where firefighters arrived to find heavy flames tearing through a two-story home. Two adults — initially identified as an 85-year-old man and his 79-year-old wife who lived in the home — were pulled out and rushed to TidalHealth Peninsula Regional, where they were later pronounced dead. Deputy State Fire Marshals deter…
Bike-Riding Arsonist Torched Maryland Home, Busted Returning To Scene Of Blaze: Fire Marshal Bike-Riding Arsonist Torched Maryland Home, Busted Returning To Scene Of Blaze: Fire Marshal
Bike-Riding Arsonist Torched Maryland Home, Busted Returning To Scene Of Blaze: Fire Marshal A Maryland man accused of setting a house on fire was busted after returning to the crime scene, according to investigators. Deputy State Fire Marshals arrested Ryan Lawrence Spann, 40, of Oakland, after spotting him in the woods near the burned home in Garrett County on Tuesday, Sept. 2, officials said. At about 2:30 p.m., a homeowner in the 1000 block of Pergin Farm Road reported seeing Spann ignite a blaze on the front porch before fleeing on a bicycle.  The homeowner chased Spann and took photos as he pedaled away, while a friend tried to put out the flames and called 911, accordi…
Maryland Home Torched Twice: Cameras Catch Arsonist Running From Burning Building Maryland Home Torched Twice: Cameras Catch Arsonist Running From Burning Building
Maryland Home Torched Twice: Cameras Catch Arsonist Running From Burning Building A Maryland home that went up in flames earlier this year was set on fire again — this time with security cameras catching the arsonist in the act, officials said. The blaze broke out around 1 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 23 at a vacant residence on Augustine Herman Highway in Kennedyville, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal. Security cameras from the Kennedyville Volunteer Fire Company captured a suspect igniting a fire on the outside of the home before bolting from the scene, investigators said. The property, now owned by Francis Bonass, is no stranger to fire crews. Investigators bel…
Maryland Woman Torches Neighbor’s Door Over $7 Argument: Fire Marshal Maryland Woman Torches Neighbor’s Door Over $7 Argument: Fire Marshal
Maryland Woman Torches Neighbor’s Door Over $7 Argument: Fire Marshal Seven bucks.  That’s all it took for a house fire, an arson arrest, and a trip to jail in handcuffs for a Maryland woman. A Salisbury woman is behind bars after allegedly dousing her neighbor’s front door with gasoline and lighting it on fire over a $7 argument, officials said. Janice Louise Oney, 58, was arrested Friday, Aug. 1, after investigators linked her to a July 3 fire on Penn Street, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal. The homeowner told investigators that Oney — whom he’d known for years — got angry after demanding $7 she claimed he owed her. After a brief argumen…
Waldorf Man Set Fire To Wife’s Bed During Domestic Dispute — While Kids Slept: Sheriff Waldorf Man Set Fire To Wife’s Bed During Domestic Dispute — While Kids Slept: Sheriff
Waldorf Man Set Fire To Wife’s Bed During Domestic Dispute — While Kids Slept: Sheriff A Charles County man who agreed to keep the peace by sleeping on his side of the house during a domestic dispute allegedly returned to his wife’s room hours later — with a gas can in hand, investigators say. Omar Shariff Harrison, 49, of Waldorf, was arrested early Friday, Aug. 1, after allegedly pouring gasoline on the bed where his wife was sleeping and lighting the sheets on fire, the Maryland State Fire Marshal said. The terrifying incident happened around 5 a.m. in the 3000 block of Eutaw Forest Drive — while their children were sleeping inside. Deputies had been called to the same ho…
$1.5M Fire Erupts At Hagerstown Truck Shop After Gas Vapors Ignite: Officials $1.5M Fire Erupts At Hagerstown Truck Shop After Gas Vapors Ignite: Officials
$1.5M Fire Erupts At Hagerstown Truck Shop After Gas Vapors Ignite: Officials A fast-moving two-alarm fire that caused $1.5 million in damage ripped through a Hagerstown towing and repair business after a mechanic siphoning gasoline accidentally sparked an explosion, state fire investigators said. The blaze broke out around 4:23 p.m. on Thursday, July 24, at Main Truck Towing & Repair Inc. on Label Lane, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal. Investigators said the fire started in a rear vehicle bay when flammable vapors ignited as the mechanic siphoned fuel from a diesel motor.  The mechanic suffered serious burns to his lower body and was airlifted…
Lightning Strike Destroys Conowingo Barns, Shed In $200K Blaze: Fire Marshal Lightning Strike Destroys Conowingo Barns, Shed In $200K Blaze: Fire Marshal
Lightning Strike Destroys Conowingo Barns, Shed In $200K Blaze: Fire Marshal Three buildings were leveled and a garage was damaged when a bolt of lightning set fire to a Conowingo property, officials say. The fire broke out shortly before 11 p.m. Wednesday, July 16, at a private property on the 100 block of McCauley Road, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal. It happened approximately an hour after Cecil County went under a Flood Warning due to severe weather conditions. Investigators said the owners heard a lightning strike, then discovered flames spreading through several buildings on their property. By the time firefighters arrived, the blaze had engulfe…
Hero Maryland Teen Saves Siblings From Fiery Air Fryer Blaze In Edgewood: Officials Hero Maryland Teen Saves Siblings From Fiery Air Fryer Blaze In Edgewood: Officials
Hero Maryland Teen Saves Siblings From Fiery Air Fryer Blaze In Edgewood: Officials A 14-year-old Maryland girl is being praised for keeping her cool under pressure and getting her younger siblings to safety after a kitchen fire broke out while the kids were home alone. Shortly after 12:20 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15, crews were called to a townhouse fire on the 600 block of Burlington Court in Edgewood, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal. Investigators said the fire started in the kitchen of the two-story middle-unit townhouse while three children were cooking French fries in an air fryer with no adults home. The 14-year-old began to smell smoke and went to invest…
Suspicious Vehicle Spotted Before Cecil County House Fire, Officials Say Suspicious Vehicle Spotted Before Cecil County House Fire, Officials Say
Suspicious Vehicle Spotted Before Cecil County House Fire, Officials Say A suspicious vehicle was spotted leaving the area just before a house went up in flames late Saturday night in Cecil County, fire officials said. The fire broke out at 10:42 p.m. on Saturday, July 12, inside a two-story single-family home on the 5800 block of Telegraph Road in Elkton, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal, released Monday. The fire, which caused an estimated $1,000 in damage, was discovered by a neighbor, officials said. The home did not have a smoke alarm, and no fire alarms or sprinklers were present, they noted. No injuries were reported. Roughly 40 firefighters…
Heroic Neighbor Saves Dogs, Slows House Fire In Havre De Grace Before Crews Arrive Heroic Neighbor Saves Dogs, Slows House Fire In Havre De Grace Before Crews Arrive
Heroic Neighbor Saves Dogs, Slows House Fire In Havre De Grace Before Crews Arrive A quick-thinking neighbor in Harford County is being credited with rescuing two dogs and holding off a house fire until firefighters arrived to battle the blaze, officials say. The fire sparked shortly after 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 13, inside a two-story home on Webster Lapidum Road in Havre de Grace, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal. A home fire alarm system alerted the homeowner, who was away at the time, prompting him to call a neighbor to check on the property. That’s when the neighbor spotted flames in the kitchen, rescued both dogs, and grabbed a fire extinguisher to try…
$100K in Damage After Arsonist Targets Trucks at Maryland Transport Yard, Fire Marshal Says $100K in Damage After Arsonist Targets Trucks at Maryland Transport Yard, Fire Marshal Says
$100K in Damage After Arsonist Targets Trucks at Maryland Transport Yard, Fire Marshal Says A firebug caused six-figure damage at an area transport yard after attempting to torch multiple trucks earlier this week, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal. Investigators say someone tried to set multiple vehicles ablaze at Murphy’s Transport on West Belle Road in Ridgely.  The owner, Bryan Saathoff, discovered the fire damage to the interior of one truck early Monday, July 7, and soon realized several other vehicles had also been targeted. “Deputy State Fire Marshals have determined that someone attempted to set multiple vehicles on fire,” the agency said Wednesday, July 9…
$1M Fire Destroys Maryland Townhouse After Attic AC Sparks Two-Alarm Blaze $1M Fire Destroys Maryland Townhouse After Attic AC Sparks Two-Alarm Blaze
$1M Fire Destroys Maryland Townhouse After Attic AC Sparks Two-Alarm Blaze A two-alarm fire in Maryland lit up the sky and left behind more than $1 million in damage after flames tore through the attic of a townhouse and rapidly spread, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal. The fire was reported shortly after 1:15 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, in the Martingham Circle development in St. Michaels. A passerby spotted the fire and called 911. 6/21/25 1322 hours Firefighters from St.Michaels, Tilghman, Easton and Talbot County Paramedic 94 were alerted for the... Posted by St. Michaels Fire Department, Inc. on Saturday, June 21, 2025 Firefighters arrive…
Homeowners Killed In Harford County House Fire Identified By Investigators (UPDATED) Homeowners Killed In Harford County House Fire Identified By Investigators (UPDATED)
Homeowners Killed In Harford County House Fire Identified By Investigators (Updated) New details have been released following a double fatal fire that claimed the lives of two people. Deputy state fire marshals are investigating a double-fatal fire in Joppa, after two people were found dead inside a burning home, officials announced on May 14. Update on the Gunpowder Drive house fire:Volunteer Firefighters have rescued 2 civilians from the burning home, they are being treated by 2!HarfordCoDES EMS units. @MarylandOSFM is responding. — Harford Co., MD Fire & EMS (@HarforCoFireEMS) May 14, 2025 Crews from the Joppa Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company and surrounding depa…
Heroic Neighbor Uses Ladder To Rescue Maryland Man Trapped On Roof In House Fire Heroic Neighbor Uses Ladder To Rescue Maryland Man Trapped On Roof In House Fire
Heroic Neighbor Uses Ladder To Rescue Maryland Man Trapped On Roof In House Fire A man was pulled off a roof by a neighbor with a ladder as fire tore through a Maryland duplex, sending him to the hospital and displacing two families, authorities said. The blaze broke out around 9:15 a.m. on Saturday, May 10 on Mill Street in Greensboro, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal.  When crews from the Greensboro Volunteer Fire Company arrived, flames were already ripping through the exterior of the two-story home, officials said. Investigators said the only occupant of unit 113-A was forced onto the roof to escape the smoke and flames. A neighbor then grabbed a l…
Two Dead In Charles County House Fire Made Worse By Hoarding, Officials Say Two Dead In Charles County House Fire Made Worse By Hoarding, Officials Say
Two Dead In Charles County House Fire Made Worse By Hoarding, Officials Say Deadly hoarding conditions inside a Maryland home made rescue efforts difficult after a fire broke out early Thursday, leaving two dead and one survivor, authorities said. The flames were already ripping through a Brunswick Road home in Faulkner when firefighters arrived shortly after 6:15 a.m. on April 17, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal. Crews from the Bel Alton Volunteer Fire Department and other nearby agencies were told that two people might still be inside the burning house, but extreme hoarding conditions made getting to them nearly impossible. It took 50 firefighters c…
Maryland Man Barricaded In Motel, Set $750K Fire In California, Prosecutors Say Maryland Man Barricaded In Motel, Set $750K Fire In California, Prosecutors Say
Maryland Man Barricaded In Motel, Set $750K Fire In California, Prosecutors Say A violent motel room rampage that ended in flames and sent guests fleeing has landed a Maryland man behind bars — possibly for decades. Anthony Cleaver Mason, 65, was convicted of assault, arson, and reckless endangerment after a fire he started in a St. Mary's County motel tore through the building and caused hundreds of thousands in damage, officials announced. Deputies with the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Super Eight motel on Three Notch Road in California on June 3, 2024 to investigate multiple reports of a disturbance.  When they arrived, they found Mason …
12 Dogs Die In Maryland House Fire Sparked By Power Strip, Officials Say 12 Dogs Die In Maryland House Fire Sparked By Power Strip, Officials Say
12 Dogs Die In Maryland House Fire Sparked By Power Strip, Officials Say A devastating fire in Western Maryland killed a dozen dogs and sent one person to the hospital after tearing through an area home, officials say. Fire crews were called to the one-story home in the 15600 block of Brice Hollow Road around 12:45 p.m. Thursday, April 3, in Cumberland, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal. The blaze started in a bedroom and was ruled accidental — caused by an electrical malfunction involving a power strip, investigators said. Roughly 35 firefighters from the District 16 Volunteer Fire Department responded and brought the flames under control within 25 …
Group Of Kids Blamed For Setting Fire In Hagerstown Townhouse Community: Officials Group Of Kids Blamed For Setting Fire In Hagerstown Townhouse Community: Officials
Group Of Kids Blamed For Setting Fire In Hagerstown Townhouse Community: Officials Fire officials say a group of kids sparked a blaze that sent firefighters scrambling to a Hagerstown townhome community. The fire was reported over the weekend when flames broke out in a patch of vegetation along Scarlet Oak Drive in the Valley Meadow Townhomes development, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal. The fire, reported around 5:20 p.m. on Friday afternoon, didn’t cause major damage — just $50 in content loss — and was knocked down within minutes by the Halfway Volunteer Fire Company.  No one was hurt, and no structures were affected, but investigators quickly determ…
$200K Blaze Rips Through Aberdeen Home With No Smoke Alarms, Officials Say $200K Blaze Rips Through Aberdeen Home With No Smoke Alarms, Officials Say
$200K Blaze Rips Through Aberdeen Home With No Smoke Alarms, Officials Say A dryer fire tore through a home in Harford County on Sunday night, causing major damage and displacing the homeowner, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal. The fire broke out around 9:51 p.m. on March 23 at a one-story house in the 2000 block of Park Beach Drive in Aberdeen, investigators said. The homeowner discovered the flames behind a dryer as they spread up the wall. He attempted to put out the fire with a portable extinguisher, but the extinguisher failed, officials added.  He then exited the home and called 911. Crews from the Aberdeen Fire Department arrived minutes …
Hagerstown Man Sets Fire To Ex’s Clothes With Kids Inside Home: Officials Hagerstown Man Sets Fire To Ex’s Clothes With Kids Inside Home: Officials
Hagerstown Man Sets Fire To Ex’s Clothes With Kids Inside Home: Officials A Maryland man is behind bars after police say he set his ex’s clothes on fire—while their kids were inside the house. Brian Allen Blank, 41, of Hagerstown, was arrested early Sunday, March 23, after a front yard blaze nearly spread to a home on Corbett Street, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal. The fire broke out just before 3:00 a.m. in the front yard of Blank’s home, where firefighters found charred clothing and burn damage to the front porch and door. Blank had set fire to personal belongings belonging to his estranged partner—the mother of his two children—by dumping the cl…
Two Dogs Killed, Family Displaced In Harford County House Fire: Officials Two Dogs Killed, Family Displaced In Harford County House Fire: Officials
Two Dogs Killed, Family Displaced In Harford County House Fire: Officials A Harford County family lost their pets and their home after a fast-moving fire tore through a basement bedroom and left two people injured, state officials said. Crews were called to the 1300 block of Tralee Circle in Aberdeen around 10:30 p.m. Thursday, March 20, where they found flames ripping through the lower level of a two-story home, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal. The fire started in a basement bedroom and caused an estimated $200,000 in total damages, investigators said. One firefighter and one resident suffered minor injuries during the response but refused hospital…
Mother, Son Airlifted After Battling House Fire In California, Officials Say Mother, Son Airlifted After Battling House Fire In California, Officials Say
Mother, Son Airlifted After Battling House Fire In California, Officials Say A Maryland mother and son who tried to contain a fire in their home were airlifted to the hospital for smoke inhalation in St. Mary's County, officials announced. Firefighters responded to a house fire at 6:54 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19, at a home on Bean Family Lane in California, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal. Investigators say the fire started in the kitchen and was discovered by the homeowner’s son, who noticed smoke and took quick action to contain the flames before firefighters arrived. Bay District Volunteer Fire Department crews arrived within minutes and fully exti…
Flames Tear Through Havre de Grace Home On Brink Of Completion, Officials Say Flames Tear Through Havre de Grace Home On Brink Of Completion, Officials Say
Flames Tear Through Havre de Grace Home On Brink Of Completion, Officials Say A Maryland home that was just weeks away from completion has been severely damaged in a fire, leaving behind extensive smoke, soot, and water damage, officials announced. Firefighters rushed to a single-family home in the 1700 block of Glenville Road in Havre De Grace at around 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, after a neighbor spotted flames outside the property, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal. The house, which was in its final stages of renovation, had just undergone floor staining earlier that morning. By the time firefighters arrived, flames had engulfed the exterior. Crews…
Man Suffers Severe Burns, Jumps From Balcony To Escape Apartment Fire In Maryland Man Suffers Severe Burns, Jumps From Balcony To Escape Apartment Fire In Maryland
Man Suffers Severe Burns, Jumps From Balcony To Escape Apartment Fire In Maryland A Maryland man suffered severe burns and serious injuries after an apartment fire forced him to leap from his second-floor balcony to safety in Harford County, authorities announced. The 71-year-old resident of an Edgewood apartment complex is recovering after flames broke out inside his unit on the night of Saturday, March 15, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal. Investigators say the fire started in the kitchen of Apartment D in the 1730 block of Crimson Tree Way, when combustible items came into contact with the stove. The man attempted to extinguish the flames but quickly beca…
Woman Rushes To Save Dogs As Flames Tears Through Maryland Home: Fire Marshal Woman Rushes To Save Dogs As Flames Tears Through Maryland Home: Fire Marshal
Woman Rushes To Save Dogs As Flames Tears Through Maryland Home: Fire Marshal A Maryland woman made a desperate attempt to save her dogs as a fire tore through her home, leaving behind more than $100,000 in damage. Firefighters were called to the single-story manufactured home on First Avenue in Friendsville around 3:15 p.m. on Monday, March 10, after one of the occupants spotted smoke and flames in the kitchen, Maryland State Fire Marshal officials said. The woman immediately called 911 and tried to rescue her pets, but the fire spread quickly.  When firefighters from the Friendsville Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department arrived, they found one dog trapped u…
Apartment Arsonist Damaged Sprinkler At YMCA: Maryland Fire Marshal Apartment Arsonist Damaged Sprinkler At YMCA: Maryland Fire Marshal
Apartment Arsonist Damaged Sprinkler At YMCA: Maryland Fire Marshal A Maryland man already jailed for arson is facing new charges after investigators say he intentionally damaged a fire sprinkler at the YMCA where he was living, causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage. Donald Lee Martin Jr., of Cumberland, was served a criminal summons at the Allegany County Detention Center, where he remains held without bond, the Maryland State Fire Marshal announced on Tuesday, March 4. The charges stem from an incident on Saturday, Feb. 15, when staff at the Cumberland YMCA reported that Martin deliberately damaged a fire sprinkler in a stairwell.  The vand…
Man Airlifted With Severe Burns After Trash Fire Spreads In Maryland, Officials Say Man Airlifted With Severe Burns After Trash Fire Spreads In Maryland, Officials Say
Man Airlifted With Severe Burns After Trash Fire Spreads In Maryland, Officials Say A backyard fire in Maryland took a dangerous turn when heavy winds spread the flames, leaving a 61-year-old man badly burned and in need of an emergency airlift, officials said. The victim had been burning trash and brush in a metal barrel at his home on Joseph Drive in Salisbury around 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 2, when the fire quickly got out of control, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal. Firefighters from the Fruitland Volunteer Fire Department arrived after reports of a shed fire and burn victim but instead found a small brush fire—and a seriously injured man. Maryland State P…