HYATTSVILLE, Md. -- A morning fire in Hyattsville is now considered "similar in nature" to 33 other cases in Washington, Maryland and Virginia.
There are now 33 arson fires and one attempted arson that firefighters say are suspiciously similar. Of those cases, 13 have been conclusively linked to each other.
In the latest fire, Prince George's County firefighters were called to the Cheverly Crossing Apartments in the 3400 block of 55th Avenue and found a small fire in an open stairwell.
Because the fire was set early in the morning outside a home with people inside, fire officials contacted the Joint Arson Task Force to investigate.
Prince George's County fire spokesman Mark Brady said one person suffered from smoke inhalation, but was treated on the scene by paramedics.
