The suspect was arrested early Tuesday morning.
Hagerstown, Md (KM) A Hagerstown man is charged with setting fire inside the former Snook’s Poultry Building on Sunday evening. Kevin Lee Spielman, 60. is charged with 2nd-degree arson, 1st-degree malicious burning, 4th-degree burglary, malicious destruction of property under $1,000 and reckless endangerment.
The Hagerstown Fire Department says its units responded on Sunday at 6:30 PM to a building fire at 26 West Baltimore Street. Personnel found heavy smoke coming from the two-and-a-half-story, wood frame building. It was a combination residential and commercial structure. About 90 fire fighters spent several hours putting out the flames. Two fire fighters suffered minor injuries.
An investigation by the Hagerstown Fire Marshal’s Office and the Maryland State Fire Marshal led to Spielman as the suspect. He was arrested early Tuesday morning. Spielman is being held without bond at the Washington County Detention Center.
Officials say due to several ceilings and sections collapsing withing the building, investigators requested canines from the Montgomery County Fire Department’s Urban Search and Rescue Team. Team members searched the building and found no one inside.
“The cooperation and collaboration of our fire marshal’s office with that of the state fire marshal is commendable and lead to a successful outcome on the investigation of this incident. We are thankful for the support of the state fire marshal’s office during this investigation, and look forward to future efforts of working collectively,”: says Hagerstown Fire Chief John DiBacco, in a statement.
“The arrest of this suspect reveals out partnership with our local fire investigation units and their outstanding commitment to Maryland’s citizens. I want to thank Chief DiBacco and his department for working with our agency to bring this case to a close,” says Acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray, in a statement.
By Kevin McManus