Arsonist strikes Mayo home
Early morning fire causes $250,000 damage By LISA BEISEL, Staff Writer
Published 06/08/09
A fire in a Mayo home early this morning was determined to have been intentionally set, county Fire Department officials said.


Firefighters responding to 3829 Ponder Drive at 3:15 a.m. found flames coming from the rear of the home and the roof, said Division Chief Michael Cox, a county Fire Department spokesman.
It took 28 firefighters about 40 minutes to bring the blaze in the two-story, single-family home under control, Cox said.

No one was home at the time, and no one was injured, he said.

A neighbor living across the street who asked not to be named said he watched as firefighters responded to the scene and saw 25-foot flames shooting up from the roof of the home.

He said the residence, which was only about "9 or 10 years old," had been vacant for about two weeks.

Investigators said they believe the fire started outside the home. It caused $250,000 worth of damages, authorities said.

Cox said dogs trained to find accelerants used to start fires assisted with the investigation, although he could not say this morning if they found any evidence of an accelerant.

Anyone with information about the arson can call investigators at 410-222-TIPS.

STORY AND PHOTO FROM THE CAPITAL NEWSPAPER