D.C. Area Arson Task Force To Hold Press Conference

Sept. 24, 2004
The Arson Task Force called a Friday news conference to discuss two fires this week that may be the work of the region's serial arsonist.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Arson Task Force called a Friday news conference to discuss two fires this week that may be the work of the region's serial arsonist.

The latest happened early Thursday in Wheaton, Md., where a condominium resident was awakened by the smell of smoke from outside the garage. Everyone escaped safely and firefighters quickly extinguished the flames, limiting the damage.

Montgomery County fire investigators called in the task force because of similarities to 39 other fires and one attempted arson dating back to March 8, 2003. They include the fire starting on the exterior, in the pre-dawn hours.

If added to the list, this would be the second Montgomery County case. The first happened Feb. 14 in Silver Spring.

The task force is also investigating a Monday morning fire that started on the outside of a Northeast Washington house. No one was hurt. That fire happened near the scene of a June 5, 2003, blaze in which an elderly woman was killed.

The last fire added to the list occurred Sept. 17 in Prince George's County, Md.

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