Three Maryland School Fires Being Investigated As Arson
A fire was set at 9:45 p.m. Sunday at Potomac High School in Oxon Hill. The fire department was called to the building by an automatic alarm. When firefighters arrived, they found a fire in a first-floor computer classroom.
It took about 20 minutes to bring the flames under control. There were no injuries and damage was estimated at between $500 and $1,000. Department spokesman Mark Brady said police are also investigating a break-in at the school.
On Friday night at about 11:30 p.m., two fires were set at Flowers High School in Springdale. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered a temporary classroom building on fire, along with another fire in a storage room inside the gym, which was put out by the school sprinkler system. The damage estimates are placed at $50,000.
Additionally, fire officials said a teenage boy was arrested Thursday at Flowers High and charged with first-degree arson for a locker fire. Investigators said they do not yet know whether the cases are related.
Anyone that may have information about these fires can contact the Arson Hotline at 301-77-ARSON.