LUSBY, MD - Authorities have charged three teenagers with deliberately setting fire to a vacant home in St. Leonard, the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office reported.
According to a press release from the fire marshal’s office, the three 14-year-old males were arrested June 19. Each youth was charged with first-degree arson and fourth-degree burglary. The arrests culminated a joint investigation by fire marshals and detectives from the Calvert Investigative Team.
The blaze occurred June 16 at 8:19 p.m. on St. Leonard Road. Neighbors discovered the fire, which investigators have determined originated in a second floor bedroom. As a result of calls to the Calvert County 911 Center, firefighters from St. Leonard, Prince Frederick, Huntingtown and Solomons were dispatched to the blaze. The 30 firefighters had the one-alarm blaze under control in 15 minutes.
“The fire was determined to have been intentionally set,” stated Dfm. Don Brenneman, who added witnesses had seen three people “leaving the house prior to the fire being discovered.”
Investigators learned the home had been vacant for approximately two years. The perpetrators allegedly set two separate fires, one in a second floor room and the other to the back exterior wall of the house.
No one was injured and damage to the structure is estimated at $50,000.
“Investigators through interviews were lead to the three teenagers,” a fire marshal’s office press release stated.
Two of the boys were released to the custody of their parents. The third teen was being held at the Cheltenham Youth Facility in Prince George’s County pending further action by the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services.
The Calvert Independent
