MARCH 31, 2015
SUITLAND, MARYLAND
Officials in Prince
George's County say dozens of people were displaced for the night after a boy
started a fire at his Suitland apartment building.
County fire
department spokesman Mark Brady says firefighters were called to the building
on Southern Avenue on Tuesday evening and found fire showing from a ground-floor
apartment. He says residents escaped
safely and the fire was quickly extinguished.
Brady says
investigators believe a boy under the age of 10 started the fire with a
lighter. The boy was cited and released
to the custody of his parents. He says
the boy will be entered into a program for juvenile fire-setters.
Damage from the
blaze was estimated at $50,000. He says one apartment was damaged by the fire,
but other residents were displaced because of the loss of utility services. The Red Cross was working to help them.