Arsonists set 20 fires and tried to set 10 more last week in a subdivision under construction in Charles County, about 35 miles south of Washington. No one was hurt in the blazes, but a total of 26 houses were damaged, 10 of them severely.
The fires caused an estimated $10 million in damage and were described as the largest residential arson case in Maryland history.
Capt. Joe Montminy of the Charles County Sheriff's department would not comment on the suspects, but said authorities hope to make an arrest within a week.
Early speculation was that the fires were set by environmentalists who believed the upscale houses were a threat to a nearby bog. But no evidence has been found to support that theory, police said.
Investigators recovered crude devices from the homes that failed to ignite and sent them to a federal lab for testing. The Washington Post reported Wednesday that the accelerants were two types of cleaning solvents, one of which is used to clean metal.
Because of the scale of the crime scene, authorities believe at least two people were responsible for the arsons. Montminy said police are still investigating reports that a blue van drove from the scene as the fires broke out.
He said police have questioned all construction company employees and contractors who worked at the site, as well as security guards from a private company hired by the project's developer.
Related:
- Investigators: Maryland Development Torched by More Than One Arsonist
- No Motive Determined at Torched Maryland Development
- Maryland Commissioners Increase Fire Reward To $82,000
- 26 Homes Burned, 12 Total Loses, in Maryland Housing Development Fire
- Eco-Terrorism Suspected In Arson Fires at Maryland Housing Development
- Maryland Fire Guts 12 Expensive, Unoccupied Homes
- Fire Engulfs Maryland Homes in Development Criticized by Environmentalists
