Fire At Maryland School Linked To Arsons

July 8, 2003
Fire set to a storage shed near portable classrooms at Travilah Elementary School over the weekend is another suspicious blaze in a string of arsons within about a one-mile radius since mid-April
Rockville--Fire set to a storage shed near portable classrooms at Travilah Elementary School over the weekend is another suspicious blaze in a string of arsons within about a one-mile radius since mid-April.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesman Pete Piringer on Monday said the fire set late Friday at the school at DuFief Mill and Travilah roads caused about $2,000 damage.

"We're looking for connections to a series of fires set in the same area and the same time frame," he said.

Mr. Piringer said another weekend arson on school grounds is "not connected with the others."

He said it was some time after midnight Saturday, or early Sunday that someone tried to set fire to Wootton High School at 20100 Wootton Parkway.

Three Molotov cocktails, containers with rags soaked in flammable liquid inside them, were collected at the scene as evidence.

This fire did about $2,000 damage to the scoreboard and other signs on the athletic field.

The fires set since April 14 have targeted trash bins, a house under construction and another completed one nearby, a warehouse and a construction trailer.

"In most of these," Mr. Piringer said, "there was also some associated vandalism."

School system spokesman Brian Porter said the fires on school grounds caused "no disruption to anything other than it's certainly a great annoyance."

He said, "We hope the individual or individuals get caught and severely prosecuted and we will support it."

In that effort, Mr. Piringer said the county was asking for help from the community. Anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the area, or hears somebody talking about the fires is asked to call the arson hotline on 240-777-2263.

Voice Your Opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Firehouse, create an account today!