Knife-Wielding Man Holds Maryland Firefighters at Bay While House Burns

LEONARDTOWN Md. -- A 22-year-old man armed with a knife held firefighters at bay while his house burned, according to fire investigators.

The incident happened in the 40000 block of Hawk Court outside Leonardtown in St. Mary's County at about 10 p.m. Thursday.

Leonardtown Volunteer Deputy Fire Chief Tom Mattingly Jr. was the first to arrive at the split-level home. While checking for fire, Mattingly said he came upon a man in the smoky darkness outside the home wielding a large filet knife. The man appeared to have been injuring himself with the blade.

"It put a jolt into me," Mattingly said.

He noted volunteers are trained to fight fire, not people, and he ordered arriving volunteers to stay back until law enforcement officers could subdue the man with a taser.

During the delay, fire continued to sweep through the house. The structure was a total loss.

Investigators identified the knife-wielding man as 22-year-old Blake Oppelt, who lived in the home with his mother.

In an earlier argument, investigators said the mother had confronted her son about missing medication and decided to leave the house for her own safety.

Shortly thereafter, an alarm company alerted firefighters to come to the home.

Oppelt had threatened to burn the house down, according to investigators at the scene.

Arson charges are pending while Oppelt is treated for his injuries and receives an emergency evaluation, according to a statement from the State Fire Marshall's office.

Republished with permission of WUSA-TV.