DC area-Serial Arsons

[NJFFSA16]

WASHINGTON (AP) - A sixth fire was linked conclusively Tuesday
to a serial arsonist operating in and around the nation's capital,
and officials said they have expanded the list of suspicious fires
that might be connected.
Investigators are looking at 24 blazes - 14 in Washington and 10
in neighboring Prince George's County, Md. The fires began March 5
and have killed an elderly woman and injured seven people.
The fires were set late at night in residential dwellings and
involved some form of liquid accelerant to fuel the blaze. The
latest conclusively linked to the arsonist, in which nobody was
hurt, occurred June 20 at a home in Chapel Oaks, Md. Two other
fires were added Tuesday to the list of suspicious fires.
"It remains a possibility that other fires that are similar in
nature will be on that list," Ronald Blackwell, chief of the
Prince George's County Fire and Emergency Medical Services
Department, said at a news conference in suburban Largo, Md.
The blazes have residents on edge in a large area of the capital
region, which spent three nerve-racking weeks last October as
police sought snipers killing at random. Two men are charged with
20 apparently random shootings, in which 13 people died.
Betty Adams, who lives the area of Washington where seven
suspicious fires occurred, said Tuesday she is "frightened to
death."
"I don't sleep at night much because you just never know where
he or she is going to strike next," Adams said.
Officials had town meetings Monday and Tuesday nights to share
information about the investigation and pass out fire prevention
kits. A $20,000 reward has been offered for information leading to
an arrest and conviction.
"In some cases, people are reluctant to speak to investigators
about some things that they may know," Blackwell said.
He said investigators have yet to come up with a profile of the
arsonist. "We don't know if they are young or old or male or
female," Blackwell said.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has been
called in to help with the investigation.
---
Associated Press Writer Ron Vample contributed to this report.

On the Net:
Prince George's Fire and Emergency Medical Services:
http://www.pgfireems.com

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) - Fire investigators in Montgomery County,
Md., said Friday that 24 suspicious blazes in the county are not
linked to a rash of arsons in neighboring Prince George's County,
Md., and Washington, D.C.
"We're very concerned about the pattern of arson that is
occurring," said Gordon Aoyagi, Fire Administrator of the
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service.
The 24 blazes in Washington and Prince George's considered
similar in nature have involved occupied dwellings in poorer
neighborhoods. Six of those fires are conclusively linked to one
another.
However, the Montgomery fires have been on school properties,
parkland, or in brush near unoccupied areas. They occurred chiefly
in the North Potomac-Darnestown area, an affluent section of the
county about 20 miles north of Washington.
"We believe juveniles may be involved," Aoyagi said.
Montgomery investigators are checking with counterparts in
northern Virginia and elsewhere in Maryland, but see no reason to
widen the inquiry, said Prince George's County Fire and Emergency
Medical Services Department Chief Ronald Blackwell.
Damage estimates in Montgomery County have totaled about
$750,000 since April. Five schools and a daycare facility have been
damaged.
"We have very little physical evidence," said Asst. Fire
Marshal Brian Geraci.
"We're very fortunate we have not had any injuries," said
Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan.
Meanwhile, an arson investigation task force organized by
officials in Prince George's and Washington continues working with
analysts from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives to determine whether 18 other fires in their
jurisdictions can be conclusively linked to the probe with
scientific evidence.
"We're still looking at other fires going back several
months," Blackwell said.
A $1,000 reward is being offered in the Montgomery County
investigation, while there is a $20,000 reward in the D.C. and
Prince George's fires.
---
On the Net:
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov
Prince George's County Fire and Emergency Medical Services
Department: http://www.pgfireems.com
District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services
Department: http://fems.dc.gov

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

Investigation continues into 24 suspicious fires


(College Park-AP) -- There's no suspect yet. But Prince George's
County Fire Chief Ron Blackwell says investigators have developed
geographical and behavioral profiles.
Fourteen fires in Washington D-C and ten in Prince George's are
considered similar in nature. Six of them have been conclusively
linked to one another.
Speaking in College Park this afternoon, Blackwell said
investigators have also gotten help from the state arson task force
and the state fire marshal's office.
He says at this point, no other suspicious fires have been
linked. But the chief adds that investigators in the lab are taking
their time to make sure the evidence is irrefutable.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

By MICHAEL W. KAHN
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - A man who lives in an apartment building that
has been the scene of three suspicious fires was arrested Tuesday
and charged with starting one of them.
Paul M. DuBois, 57, was arrested at his fourth-floor home in the
Marina View Towers in Southwest Washington. Officials said he was
charged with arson for an early morning blaze July 23.
"The whole hallway was drenched in an ignitable liquid. Several
containers full of an ignitable liquid were left on the floor,"
said Alan Etter, spokesman for the District of Columbia Fire and
Emergency Medical Services Department.
DuBois suffered minor burns in the fire.
"They had no evidence," said Greg Lattimer, DuBois' lawyer.
"It's just the fact that the District of Columbia needed to
respond to this situation."
Officials are also investigating other fires in the building. On
the night of June 26, a flammable liquid was poured on several
fifth-floor doors and ignited. Two residents and a firefighter were
injured. On July 6, a fourth-floor carpet and door were ignited
with a flammable liquid early in the morning, but no one was hurt.
On June 27, flammable liquid was poured on the fourth floor, but
never ignited.
During the investigation, fire code violations - including lack
of a working smoke alarm - were discovered in the building. The
owners were fined $3,000.
Meanwhile, investigators are also looking into a series of
suspicious fires in the area - 14 in Washington and 10 in Prince
George's County, Md.
"The fire at Marina Towers on which the arrest was based has
some similarities" to those 24 fires, said Chief Ronald Blackwell
of the Prince George's County Fire and Rescue Service.
DuBois has not been linked to any of the 24 fires or the other
incidents in his building.
---
Associated Press Writer Derrill Holly contributed to this
report.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Arson investigators added a Tuesday morning
fire to the list of 31 unsolved cases in the Washington area they
believe are linked to the same unknown suspect or group.
"The time of day, the location of the fire on the outside of
the structure and the materials used - in this case a container and
ignitable fluid - this case is conclusively linked," said Prince
George's County fire chief Ronald D. Blackwell.
A joint task force, primarily composed of arson investigators
from Prince George's County and the District of Columbia, has been
coordinating the investigation of the suspicious fires. The group
has conclusively linked 10 fires and one attempted arson through
physical evidence collected at the scenes.
Since March 5 there have been 18 arsons and one attempted fire
set in the district, and 12 arsons in Prince George's, all of which
are considered similar in nature.
"Because of the nature of the crime and the need for us to be
thorough in our analysis, solving these cases is going to take some
time," said Blackwell.
The latest blaze occurred at a home in Northeast Washington
around 2:45 a.m. Tuesday. A resident of the home was awake at the
time, smelled the smoke and quickly sprayed water on the flames
after summoning firefighters. A dog trained to sniff out arson
evidence was brought to the scene.
"She was engaged early on in this to detect the presence of any
ignitable liquids. She did alert several times," said Alan Etter,
spokesman for the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services
Department.
Over the past few months, arson investigators from both
jurisdictions have been working with federal, state and local
authorities in the district and suburban Maryland to try to
identify a suspect. More than 300 leads have been pursued, but no
arrests have been made.
"We've got physical evidence and we've conducted a lot of
interviews, but in these types of cases it's generally a tip from
the public that gets these cases solved," said Blackwell.
Profilers believe the suspect has engaged in alcohol abuse and
reckless driving. He may also have a criminal history, a penchant
for lying and problems taking responsibility for conditions in his
life. A reward of $25,000 has been established for information
leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect.
Forensic investigators at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives continue to conduct research on evidence
collected at the scene of many of the fires.
---
On the Net:
Prince George's County Fire Department:
http://www.co.pg.md.us/Government/Pu...re/index.asp?h
0&s &n5


(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

List of 31 suspicious fires being investigated, including one
attempted arson. There are 19 in the District of Columbia and 12 in
Prince George's County, Md. An asterisk (*) means it is one of the
eleven fires conclusively linked to one another. Source: Prince
George's Fire/EMS.
D.C.:
March 5: 1700 D St., SE
March 25: 2030 Jasper Road, SE
May 15: 4026 Southern Avenue, SE
May 17: 3367 Alden Place, NE
May 20: 1737 Trinidad Avenue, NE
May 22: 105 53rd Street, NE
June 5: 2800 Evarts Street, NE -- killed Lou Edna Jones, 86.
June 5: 1415 Ames Place, NE
June 9: 2500 N Street, SE
June 10: 5038 Drake Place, SE
June 25: 4920 North Capitol Street, NW (*)
June 25: 1901 13th Street, NW
June 30: 2500 Randolph Street, NE
July 2: 300 block of 17th Street, SE
Sep. 8: 200 block of Quakenbos Street, NW (*)
Sep. 10: 4700 block of Dix Street, NE (*)
Sep. 14: 4115 Anacostia Ave., NE (*) -- attempted arson, suspect
chased before fire could be started
Oct. 8: 1300 block of Otis St., NE
Nov. 11: 1700 block of 24th St., NE (*)

Prince George's:

April 1: 1500 block of Mystic Avenue, Oxon Hill.
April 20: 5700 Jay Street, Fairmount Heights
May 27: 2900 St. Claire Drive, Marlow Heights
May 29: 1226 Benning Road, Capitol Heights
June 13: 3808 Ellis Street, Boulevard Heights (*)
June 17: 924 Abel Avenue, Capitol Heights
June 17: 5800 Jefferson Heights Drive, Fairmount Heights (*)
June 19: 2916 Southern Avenue, Capitol Heights
June 20: 1315 Chapel Oaks Drive, Chapel Oaks (*)
June 21: 2406 Wintergreen Avenue, District Heights (*)
June 22: 1505 Ruston Avenue, District Heights (*)
Sep. 4: 5100 block of Barnaby Run Drive, Oxon Hill (*)



(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

WASHINGTON (AP) - The serial arsonist who has set more than 30
fires at homes in the District of Columbia and Prince George's
County, Md., is believed to have struck in Alexandria, Va., the
head of the Arson Task Force said Monday.
Investigators believe a Sunday morning fire at a house in the
4400 block of Braddock Road is similar to 12 arsons in Prince
George's and 18 arsons and an attempted arson in the district, said
Prince George's Fire/EMS Chief Ronald Blackwell.
"It's based on the time of day the fire occurred (between
midnight and 6 a.m.), the location of the fire - outside the
structure - and because we believe an ignitable fluid was used,"
said Blackwell.
No one was injured in the Alexandria fire, which was set at
about 4:50 a.m. and quickly put out. Alexandria fire officials
notified the Arson Task Force on Monday afternoon, and evidence
from the scene was sent to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives. Blackwell did not know if anyone at the home got a
look at the person who started it.
The fires are believed to have started on March 5. An
86-year-old woman was killed in a June 5 fire in Northeast
Washington. Investigators have conclusively linked 11 of the fires,
based on evidence at each scene.
This was the first time the arsonist has struck outside
Washington, D.C., and Prince George's County, but Blackwell said
the development didn't surprise him.
Federal, state and local authorities are working with the task
force to identify a suspect. They have pursued more than 300 leads,
but no arrests have been made.
"We've got physical evidence and we've conducted a lot of
interviews, but in these types of cases it's generally a tip from
the public that gets these cases solved," said Blackwell.
The chief made a televised appeal to the arsonist last month to
contact the sniper task force, but so far, no one has called
claiming to be the person investigators are seeking, Blackwell
said.
Investigators believe the person setting the fires has been seen
only once, when he tried to set a fire Sept. 14 on Anacostia Avenue
in Northeast Washington. A resident in that home saw someone
pouring flammable liquid on the porch and chased a man away before
he could start a fire. Investigators used a description provided by
the resident to develop a composite sketch.
The ATF has also developed a profile of the arsonist, though
officials stress that no one should be ruled out if they don't fit
the description exactly. The characteristics include possible
alcohol abuse, reckless or unsafe work practices, blaming others
for his problems and frequent lying.
---
On the Net:
Prince George's County, Md., Fire/EMS Dept.:
http://www.pgfireems.com


(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

Here is a list of 32 cases being investigated as suspicious
fires. There have been 18 fires in the District of Columbia, 12
fires in Prince George's County, Md., and one fire in Alexandria,
Va. There was also one attempted arson in the district. An asterisk
(*) means it is one of the 11 cases conclusively linked to one
another.

D.C.:

March 5: 1700 D St. S.E
March 25: 2030 Jasper Road S.E.
May 15: 4026 Southern Ave. S.E.
May 17: 3367 Alden Place N.E.
May 20: 1737 Trinidad Ave. N.E.
May 22: 105 53rd St. N.E.
June 5: 2800 Evarts St. N.E. - killed Lou Edna Jones, 86.
June 5: 1415 Ames Place N.E.
June 9: 2500 N St. S.E.
June 10: 5038 Drake Place S.E.
June 25: 4920 North Capitol St. N.W. (*)
June 25: 1901 13th St. N.W.
June 30: 2500 Randolph St. N.E.
July 2: 300 block of 17th St. S.E.
Sep. 8: 200 block of Quakenbos St. N.W. (*)
Sep. 10: 4700 block of Dix St. N.E. (*)
Sep. 14: 4115 Anacostia Ave. N.E. (*) -- attempted arson,
suspect chased before fire could be started
Oct. 8: 1300 block of Otis St. NE
Nov. 11: 1700 block of 24th St. N.E .(*)

Prince George's:

April 1: 1500 block of Mystic Ave., Oxon Hill.
April 20: 5700 Jay St., Fairmount Heights
May 27: 2900 St. Claire Drive, Marlow Heights
May 29: 1226 Benning Road, Capitol Heights
June 13: 3808 Ellis St., Boulevard Heights (*)
June 17: 924 Abel Ave., Capitol Heights
June 17: 5800 Jefferson Heights Drive, Fairmount Heights (*)
June 19: 2916 Southern Ave., Capitol Heights
June 20: 1315 Chapel Oaks Drive, Chapel Oaks (*)
June 21: 2406 Wintergreen Ave., District Heights (*)
June 22: 1505 Ruston Ave., District Heights (*)
Sep. 4: 5100 block of Barnaby Run Drive, Oxon Hill (*)

Alexandria:

Nov. 16: 4400 block of West Braddock Road

Source: Prince George's County Fire/EMS Dept.


(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Investigators believe a serial arsonist who
has set more than 30 fires in the Washington area struck early
Saturday morning in New Carrollton, Md.
The Arson Task Force linked the fire in the 5700 block of 83rd
Place to 12 other arsons in Prince George's County, 18 arsons and
an attempted arson in the District of Columbia and an arson in
Alexandria, Va., Prince George's Fire/EMS Chief Ronald Blackwell
said.
Investigators made the arson determination based on the fire
occurring overnight, being outside the house and other physical
evidence Blackwell declined to identify.
The small fire was set with an ignitable fluid on the side of a
garage attached to a one-story house around 4:30 a.m, Blackwell
said. It was quickly extinguished, and the two men inside escaped
unharmed.
Since March 5, 33 fires have been identified as similar in
nature, and 13 have now been conclusively linked based on physical
evidence, fire officials said. An 86-year-old woman was killed in a
June 5 fire in Northeast Washington.
Debris and other evidence from the scene of the New Carrollton
fire has been sent to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives lab.
Investigators canvassed the neighborhood Saturday where the
latest fire occurred, hoping residents could provide clues.
Earlier this year, they released a composite sketch of the
arsonist based on a description by a Northeast Washington resident,
who chased away a man pouring flammable liquid on a porch.
The ATF has also developed a profile of the arsonist. The
characteristics include possible alcohol abuse, reckless or unsafe
work practices, blaming others for his problems and frequent lying.
Blackwell said stress also may have triggered the arsonist.
"We're certainly in the midst of the holiday season, and
they're good stresses and bad stresses that are going on now that
may have caused the individual to act out." he added.
Blackwell said he's not frustrated that they haven't made an
arrest.
"We continue to be energized because we believe we're on the
right track and getting closer, but there is an ongoing need for
the public's involvement," he added.
Investigators have posted a $25,000 reward for information
leading to the arrest and conviction of the arsonist.
---
On the Net:
Prince George's County, Md., +Fire+/EMS Dept.:
http://www.pgfireems.com

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

(Washington-AP) -- D-C Fire and E-M-S says it's too early to try
to make any links to a long list of other arson cases, but there's
a report of a man setting fire to a woman's door this evening on
Franklin Street. He then fled.
Fire and E-M-S spokesman Alan Etter cautions against making any
links now to 33 arson fires and one attempted arson that have taken
place in D-C, Prince George's County and Alexandria. He points out
that the Franklin Street fire was sparked at a different time of
day and in a different corridor, when compared with the other
blazes.
Investigators say a fire in Bladensburg this morning appears to
be the work of a serial arsonist who has been targeting homes in
the Washington region since last March. That fire began around
three this morning, when investigators say someone used an
accelerant in the hallway of a garden-style apartment building in
the 34-hundred block of 55th Avenue.

(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

Here is the list of 34 cases being investigated. There have been
18 fires and one attempted arson in the District of Columbia, 14
fires in Prince George's County, Md., and one fire in Alexandria,
Va. An asterisk (*) means it is one of the 13 cases conclusively
linked to one another.

Washington, D.C.:

March 5: 1700 D St. SE
March 25: 2030 Jasper Road SE
May 15: 4026 Southern Ave. SE
May 17: 3367 Alden Place NE
May 20: 1737 Trinidad Ave. NE
May 22: 105 53rd St. NE
June 5: 2800 Evarts Street NE - killed Lou Edna Jones, 86
June 5: 1415 Ames Place NE
June 9: 2500 N St. SE
June 10: 5038 Drake Place SE
June 25: 4920 North Capitol St. NW (*)
June 25: 1901 13th St. NW
June 30: 2500 Randolph St. NE
July 2: 300 block of 17th Street SE
Sep. 8: 200 block of Quakenbos Street NW (*)
Sep. 10: 4700 block of Dix Street NE (*)
Sep. 14: 4115 Anacostia Ave. NE (*) - attempted arson, suspect
chased before fire could be started
Oct. 8: 1300 block of Otis Street NE
Nov. 11: 1700 block of 24th Street NE (*)

Prince George's County, Md.:

April 1: 1500 block of Mystic Avenue, Oxon Hill
April 20: 5700 Jay St., Fairmount Heights
May 27: 2900 St. Claire Drive, Marlow Heights
May 29: 1226 Benning Road, Capitol Heights
June 13: 3808 Ellis St., Boulevard Heights (*)
June 17: 924 Abel Ave., Capitol Heights
June 17: 5800 Jefferson Heights Drive, Fairmount Heights (*)
June 19: 2916 Southern Ave., Capitol Heights
June 20: 1315 Chapel Oaks Drive, Chapel Oaks (*)
June 21: 2406 Wintergreen Ave., District Heights (*)
June 22: 1505 Ruston Ave., District Heights (*)
Sep. 4: 5100 block of Barnaby Run Drive, Oxon Hill (*)
Dec. 20: 5700 block of 83rd Place, New Carrollton (*)
Jan. 22, 2004: 3814 55th Ave., Bladensburg

Alexandria, Va.:

Nov. 16: 4400 block of West Braddock Road (*)

Source: Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department

(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

WASHINGTON (AP) - A big reward and hundreds of tips haven't led
to an arrest of the arsonist responsible for up to 35 fires around
the nation's capital that have killed one person and injured 10.
The fires, which began a year ago, have shaken residents in
parts of the area that in the past 2½ years has seen a terrorist
attack, anthrax letters and sniper shootings.
"It's a very scary situation," District of Columbia Councilman
Vincent Orange said. Several of the fires have occurred in his
ward, and constituents have expressed concerns at community
meetings.
"I tell them the arsonist has a pattern of doing this between
the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., and so we need to be vigilant and
have a dog or something that can make noise," Orange said.
Since a telephone tip line was established last July, more than
500 calls and e-mails offering information have been received. A
sketch of a possible suspect began circulating last month,
prompting 150 new tips but no arrests.
Profilers say the suspect is likely to be angry or troubled.
Studies of serial arsonists have found them to be skilled liars
capable of being charming, manipulative and cunning. They also are
quick to blame others for problems in their personal or
professional lives.
"Somebody out there knows this person, and they know that they
are out those times of night or early morning when the fires are
occurring," said Victor Stagnero, lead arson investigator for the
Prince George's County, Md., Fire and Emergency Medical Services
Department.
Since March 8, there have been 18 fires in Washington and 17 in
areas that border the city, mainly Prince George's County. An
86-year-old woman was killed in one of the blazes.
The last two fires considered similar enough in nature to be
added to the list were Feb. 6 in Fairfax, Va., and Feb. 14 in
Silver Spring, Md.
Nearly a dozen residents of homes that have been damaged
declined to discuss the fires, although some acknowledged they are
concerned that no arrests have been made. Authorities are advising
people to remain alert, keep their porch lights on at night, and
consider installing motion-activated lighting on their property.
"We certainly need people to be vigilant if we're going to
catch this guy," Washington Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey said.
Solving an arson is not easy. According to FBI statistics, only
16 percent of arson investigations end in arrests. To spur tips, a
$35,000 reward has been established for information leading to the
arrest of a suspect for the Washington-area fires.
Investigators also have consulted with Seattle authorities,
where scores of arsons in four counties a decade ago were linked to
a single suspect. Paul Kenneth Keller, then 27, pleaded guilty to
setting 32 fires and acknowledged setting 44 others. He was
sentenced to 75 years in prison.
In the Seattle cases, Keller was recognized by a firefighter who
found that he resembled two of three sketches released by
investigators. Keller's father confirmed his identity and informed
investigators that his son had been caught setting fire to a vacant
house when he was 8 or 9, and was once fired from a bookkeeper's
job following a suspicious fire at his desk.
Washington-area firefighters have gone door to door in some
neighborhoods where the fires have occurred, distributing sketches
and urging residents and business owners to be alert for anything
suspicious.
"Someone's going to recognize the profile information and the
sketch we've put out, and be able to help us lock this person up,"
Stagnero said.
---
The tip line number is 301-772-7766.
Prince George's County Fire/EMS: http://www.pgfireems.com

(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

Witnesses say man who posed as fire official resembles arson
suspect


(Lanham-AP) -- A man posing as a Prince George's County fire
investigator attempted to get personnel information from an
elementary school before being turned away.
Some witnesses describe the man as resembling the sketch of the
serial arsonist who has set dozens of fires in Washington D-C,
Maryland, and Virginia over the last year.
The incident happened yesterday morning at Magnolia Elementary
School on Nightingale Drive in Lanham.
Prince George's fire spokesman Mark Brady says the man showed
some type of fire department I-D card, and asked to see personnel
records. He left when administrators refused his request. They then
called authorities.
Brady says investigators are working closely with the school
district's security officials, and have warned all schools to be
extra cautious.

(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

WASHINGTON (AP) - A suspect was arrested Wednesday on charges of
impersonating a fire official at a suburban school. But while
authorities admitted he looks like the man in the serial arsonist
sketch, they stressed that investigation was not over.
"He does resemble the individual in the sketch, but it's
important to remember that the charges are only related to what
happened at the school," Chief Ronald D. Blackwell of the Prince
George's County, Md., Fire/EMS Department said Wednesday night.
"I'm certainly encouraged, but there's still a lot of work to be
done," Blackwell said of the hunt for the arsonist wanted for
setting fires in the nation's capital and its suburbs.
The unidentified 33-year-old man was arrested at a Riverdale
Heights, Md., apartment complex as he was getting into a white
Volvo.
"We appreciate the public involvement in this. We received a
number of tips about the Volvo," Blackwell said. The car was seen
Monday at Magnolia Elementary School in Lanham, Md., where the
suspect allegedly claimed to be a fire inspector and asked for
records including a list of employees, a school evacuation plan and
a yearbook. School officials refused to comply and the man left.
On Tuesday evening, a teacher at Thomas Johnson Middle School -
also in Lanham - was confronted in her classroom by a man who tried
to touch her shoulder. She got away and left the building. The
teacher later saw a report about Monday's case and told
investigators that man also resembled the sketch of the arsonist.
Blackwell is one of the leaders of the Arson Task Force, which
is investigating the 35 fires and one attempted arson dating back
to March 8, 2003. He said the investigation into the Tuesday
incident remained open.
Both cases had Prince George's County Public Schools officials
moving to beef up security. Measures being taken include "locking
doors that may not normally be locked, and being more vigilant
about monitoring visitors," said school system spokeswoman Lynn
McCawley. She said neither school had security cameras.
"It's hard to tell what to make of it, I really don't know, but
it's really frightening," Thomas Johnson Middle School Principal
Melvin Johnson told WRC-TV. "I've told the staff and students that
we will be on lockdown until further notice."
Since last March, there have been 18 fires and one attempted
arson in the District of Columbia, 14 fires in Prince George's, and
one each in Montgomery County, Md., Alexandria, Va., and Fairfax
County, Va. Of the 36 cases, 15 have been conclusively linked to
one another. The others are considered similar enough in nature to
be included among the blazes being investigated by the task force.
A June 5, 2003 fire in Northeast Washington killed Lou Edna
Jones, 86.
---
On the Net:
Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department:
http://www.pgfireems.com
Prince George's County Public Schools: http://www.pgcps.org


(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

Here is the list of 36 cases being investigated. There have been
18 fires and one attempted arson in the District of Columbia, 14
fires in Prince George's County, Md., 1 fire in Alexandria, Va., 1
fire in Fairfax County, Va., and 1 fire in Montgomery County, Md.
An asterisk (*) means it is one of the 15 cases conclusively
linked to one another.

District of Columbia:

March 8, 2003: 1700 D St., SE
March 25, 2003: 2030 Jasper Road, SE
May 15, 2003: 4026 Southern Avenue, SE
May 17, 2003: 3367 Alden Place, NE
May 20, 2003: 1737 Trinidad Avenue, NE
May 22, 2003: 105 53rd Street, NE
June 5, 2003: 2800 Evarts Street, NE - killed Lou Edna Jones, 86
June 5, 2003: 1415 Ames Place, NE
June 9,2003: 2500 N Street, SE
June 10, 2003: 5038 Drake Place, SE
June 25, 2003: 4920 North Capitol Street, NW (*)
June 25, 2003: 1901 13th Street, NW
June 30, 2003: 2500 Randolph Street, NE
July 2, 2003: 300 block of 17th Street, SE
Sep. 8, 2003: 200 block of Quakenbos Street, NW (*)
Sep. 10, 2003: 4700 block of Dix Street, NE (*)
Sep. 14, 2003: 4115 Anacostia Ave., NE (*) -- attempted arson,
suspect chased before fire could be started
Oct. 8, 2003: 1300 block of Otis St., NE (*)
Nov. 11, 2003: 1700 block of 24th St., NE (*)

Prince George's County, Md.:

April 1, 2003: 1500 block of Mystic Avenue, Oxon Hill.
April 20, 2003: 5700 Jay Street, Fairmount Heights
May 27, 2003: 2900 St. Claire Drive, Marlow Heights
May 29, 2003: 1226 Benning Road, Capitol Heights
June 13, 2003: 3808 Ellis Street, Boulevard Heights (*)
June 17, 2003: 924 Abel Avenue, Capitol Heights
June 17, 2003: 5800 Jefferson Heights Drive, Fairmount Heights
(*)
June 19, 2003: 2916 Southern Avenue, Capitol Heights
June 20, 2003: 1315 Chapel Oaks Drive, Chapel Oaks (*)
June 21, 2003: 2406 Wintergreen Avenue, District Heights (*)
June 22, 2003: 1505 Ruston Avenue, District Heights (*)
Sep. 4, 2003: 5100 block of Barnaby Run Drive, Oxon Hill (*)
Dec. 20, 2003: 5700 block of 83rd Place, New Carrollton (*)
Jan. 22, 2004: 3814 55th Avenue, Bladensburg (*)

Alexandria, Va.:

Nov. 16, 2003: 4400 block of West Braddock Road (*)

Fairfax County, Va.:

Feb. 6, 2004: 7100 block of Richmond Highway (Alexandria section
of county)

Montgomery County, Md.:

Feb. 14, 2004: 7700 block of Blair Road, Silver Spring

Source: Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department

[NJFFSA16]

GREENBELT, Md. (AP) - A man arrested by members of a task force
probing a rash of suspicious fires in the Washington, D. C. area
was held without bond Thursday.
But Noel Gibson does not face charges connected to any of the
fires.
"Mr. Gibson is charged only with making a false statement,"
said Asst. U. S. Attorney Mythili Raman.
Gibson, 33, was arrested Wednesday in Riverside, Md., in
connection with an incident that occurred March 29 at Magnolia
Elementary School in Lanham, Md. He allegedly identified himself as
a fire investigator and asked questions about personnel, school
evacuation procedures and other matters.
According to Raman, Gibson has several outstanding warrants and
was in violation of probation at the time of his arrest.
"The defendant represents a flight risk in this case," said
U.S. Magistrate Judge Jillyn K. Schulze.
A detention hearing has been set for April 5, and Schulze
appointed a public defender to represent Gibson in connection with
the federal charge.
According to the arrest affidavit, Gibson "knowingly made a
false, fictitious and fraudulent statement," to an arson task
force investigator. He allegedly told detective Brian Padgett of
the Prince George's Police Department that he was Haywood Phillip
Marshall of the Fairfax County Fire Department.
Investigators also have a search warrant allowing them to seek
any fire setting materials, maps or other items which might link
Gibson or his vehicle to any of the 35 suspicious fires now under
their jurisdiction.
Gibson's white Volvo is now at the ATF laboratory in Rockville,
Md., According to the affidavit, a Prince George's Fire and
Emergency Medical Services coat, a shoulder patch from the Hillside
Volunteer Fire Department, and several business cards and an
identification card belonging to a Prince George's firefighter have
been found.
Both firefighters whose identities Gibson is suspected of using
are arson investigators. Gibson appeared in court wearing a frayed
dark blue T-shirt with a fire department insignia over the left
breast.
Of six witnesses who saw the man who visited Magnolia Elementary
School in Lanham, two have positively identified Gibson and four
others said Gibson's photo resembled the man they saw at the
school. Gibson has not been charged in connection with the Magnolia
incident, and the work of the arson task force is continuing.
"We still have active leads to follow up," said Prince
George's Fire Chief Ronald Blackwell who had led the investigation
since the first of several suspicious fires occurred in March 2003.
---
On the Net:
Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department:
http://www.pgfireems.com
Prince George's County Public Schools: http://www.pgcps.org



(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

By DERRILL HOLLY
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - Faced with a rash of suspicious fires at
several of the city's high schools, officials with the District of
Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department spent
Friday morning providing fire prevention training to contract
security guards.
"This training is in direct response to the fires," said Lucy
Young, a spokeswoman for the D.C. Public Schools. Although the
school system's security director was aware of the session held at
Ballou High School, Young said it only involved personnel from
Watkins Security Services.
"The schools are trying to balance security with safety," said
Alan Etter, a fire department spokesman. About 300 Watkins
employees heard the city's fire marshal offer tips on how to
recognize potentially hazardous conditions, and help investigators
identify suspects when a suspicious fire occurs.
"Removing trash cans from isolated areas can lessen the
opportunity that anyone would have to start a fire and potentially
hurt somebody," Etter said. Although school fires occur throughout
the year, Etter said officials see an increase when the weather is
warmer, particularly late in the school year.
Fire officials approached Watkins last month, after a series of
fires broke out at several of the city's high schools. Over 10 days
beginning March 19, there were six fires at Eastern High School. At
least two people required medical treatment following a fire at
Eastern on March 29. In recent weeks, there also have been fires
reported at Ballou and Cardozo high schools, and several other
buildings.
"A 15-year-old boy confessed to setting the fire at Ballou, and
he was arrested," said Etter, adding that investigators work with
prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney's office and the D.C. Office of
Corporation Council to pursue cases against suspects when they can
be identified.
"Arson cases are very difficult because most of the physical
evidence is destroyed by the nature of the crime," said Etter.
Investigators hope that videotape from security cameras and an
increased awareness among security guards will lead to more
arrests.
A March 15 fire in a LaFayette Elementary storage area caused
$200,000 damage and has kept the building closed for three weeks.
Although an exact cause has not been determined, investigators have
said there is a possibility that it was deliberately set.
---
On the Net:
District of Columbia Public Schools: http://www.k12.dc.us
District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services
Department: http://www.fems.dc.gov

(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

Man accused of impersonating fire official arraigned

(Greenbelt-AP) -- A man authorities say impersonated a fire
inspector in a Lanham, Maryland school was less than cooperative
during his arraignment in a federal court today.
Noel Gibson ultimately pleaded the Fifth at his arraignment in
Greenbelt federal court.
But he initially ignored several requests to state his name --
instead making various comments to the judge about acting on his
own behalf and asking if she'd gotten the affidavit he'd sent the
court.
His lawyer asked for a recess to speak to his client. A
half-hour later, the lawyer told the court that Gibson would invoke
his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
Gibson's trial on a charge of making a false statement to a
federal investigator is set for June 22nd. The judge entered an
innocent plea on Gibson's behalf.
Gibson has not been charged in connection with more than 30
arson cases in the D-C, Maryland and Virginia. But investigators
have yet to rule him out as a suspect.

(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

TAKOMA PARK, Md. (AP) - This is Arson Awareness Week, and the
annual event is taking on a greater importance this year in the
Washington area, where a serial arsonist remains on the loose.
Since March 8, 2003, there have been 36 fires and one attempted
arson considered similar in nature in the District of Columbia,
suburban Maryland and northern Virginia. The last fire occurred in
April 16, about two months after a Valentine's Day blaze.
"Sixty days between fires certainly makes it a little more
difficult for the investigators, but we continue to receive
leads," Prince George's County Fire Chief Ronald Blackwell said
Thursday. Blackwell heads the Arson Task Force investigating the
cases, 15 of which have been conclusively linked, though since Feb.
2004, they have stopped making conclusive links.
The incidents represent only a fraction of the workload that
arson investigators in the region have been handling in recent
months. Arson cases involving teenagers are also increasing.
Since early April, four juveniles under 17 have been charged in
Prince George's County. The arrests of two others are pending in
connection with separate fires at schools and a home, Blackwell
said.
On Thursday, Blackwell joined Montgomery County Fire Chief Tom
Carr for an assembly at Rolling Terrace Elementary School, telling
many of the school's 730 students that children just a few years
older than them have been getting into some very serious trouble.
"We've had to arrest some children and take them to jail for
setting fires," said Blackwell. The words were not meant to
frighten the children, but both Blackwell and Carr agreed that
reinforcing the messages that starting fires is a dangerous crime
could help prevent such acts in the future.
"A number of our fire setters have been juveniles," said Pete
Piringer, a Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service spokesman. In
the past few years, 50 percent of those charged with arson in the
county have been under 18.
At Sherwood High School, a computer lab was vandalized and set
ablaze Feb. 15, causing $15,000 in damage. A juvenile has pleaded
guilty in that case, but other similar cases have remained
unsolved.
The Phoenix II school for students with special needs in
Gaithersburg, Md., was destroyed by arson on May 6, 2001. The fire
caused more than $1 million in damage and displaced 45 students.
Although the incident has been labeled a cold case, investigators
used the anniversary to solicit new leads.
"We know somebody knows what happened, and we're hoping that
time has helped them make the decision to come forward and help us
solve this case," Piringer said.
---
On the Net:
Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department:
http://www.pgfireems.com
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/si...ge/mc/services dfr
s/index.html

(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[NJFFSA16]

Here is the list of 37 cases being investigated. There have been
18 fires and one attempted arson in the District of Columbia, 15
fires in Prince George's County, Md., 1 fire in Alexandria, Va., 1
fire in Fairfax County, Va., and 1 fire in Montgomery County, Md.
An asterisk (*) means it is one of the 15 cases conclusively
linked to one another. However, since February 2004, the Arson Task
Force has stopped conclusively linking cases, and simply adds them
to the list of cases being investigated.

District of Columbia:

March 8, 2003: 1700 D St., SE
March 25, 2003: 2030 Jasper Road, SE
May 15, 2003: 4026 Southern Avenue, SE
May 17, 2003: 3367 Alden Place, NE
May 20, 2003: 1737 Trinidad Avenue, NE
May 22, 2003: 105 53rd Street, NE
June 5, 2003: 2800 Evarts Street, NE - killed Lou Edna Jones, 86
June 5, 2003: 1415 Ames Place, NE
June 9,2003: 2500 N Street, SE
June 10, 2003: 5038 Drake Place, SE
June 25, 2003: 4920 North Capitol Street, NW (*)
June 25, 2003: 1901 13th Street, NW
June 30, 2003: 2500 Randolph Street, NE
July 2, 2003: 300 block of 17th Street, SE
Sep. 8, 2003: 200 block of Quakenbos Street, NW (*)
Sep. 10, 2003: 4700 block of Dix Street, NE (*)
Sep. 14, 2003: 4115 Anacostia Ave., NE (*) -- attempted arson,
suspect chased before fire could be started
Oct. 8, 2003: 1300 block of Otis St., NE (*)
Nov. 11, 2003: 1700 block of 24th St., NE (*)

Prince George's County, Md.:

April 1, 2003: 1500 block of Mystic Avenue, Oxon Hill.
April 20, 2003: 5700 Jay Street, Fairmount Heights
May 27, 2003: 2900 St. Claire Drive, Marlow Heights
May 29, 2003: 1226 Benning Road, Capitol Heights
June 13, 2003: 3808 Ellis Street, Boulevard Heights (*)
June 17, 2003: 924 Abel Avenue, Capitol Heights
June 17, 2003: 5800 Jefferson Heights Drive, Fairmount Heights
(*)
June 19, 2003: 2916 Southern Avenue, Capitol Heights
June 20, 2003: 1315 Chapel Oaks Drive, Chapel Oaks (*)
June 21, 2003: 2406 Wintergreen Avenue, District Heights (*)
June 22, 2003: 1505 Ruston Avenue, District Heights (*)
Sep. 4, 2003: 5100 block of Barnaby Run Drive, Oxon Hill (*)
Dec. 20, 2003: 5700 block of 83rd Place, New Carrollton (*)
Jan. 22, 2004: 3814 55th Avenue, Bladensburg (*)
Apr. 16, 2004: 2400 block of Rosecroft Village Circle East, Oxon
Hill

Montgomery County, Md.:

Feb. 14, 2004: 7700 block of Blair Road, Silver Spring

Alexandria, Va.:
Nov. 16, 2003: 4400 block of West Braddock Road (*)

Fairfax County, Va.:

Feb. 6, 2004: 7100 block of Richmond Highway (Alexandria section
of county)

Source: Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department


(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)