Nearly 200 residents evacuated and one firefighter injured after blaze at Potomac Towers.
HAGERSTOWN, MD (JK) – Authorities have arrested 33-year-old Stephen Jones following a high-rise apartment fire at Potomac Towers that prompted the evacuation of nearly 200 residents and injured one firefighter.
The Hagerstown Fire Department responded just after 3 a.m. on October 26 to an automatic fire alarm at the 14-story, 326-unit building at 11 W. Baltimore Street. Upon arrival, crews reported smoke throughout the building and upgraded the alarm to a full apartment fire, bringing additional area fire departments to the scene.
Firefighters quickly controlled the blaze on the eighth floor using the building’s standpipe system and began evacuating residents, many of whom are elderly or have limited mobility. Jones was rescued from his apartment balcony and transported to Meritus Medical Center, where he was later admitted.
Investigators from the Office of the State Fire Marshal determined that Jones had intentionally set multiple fires in his apartment and blocked access to firefighters by tipping over his refrigerator. On November 4, Jones was taken into custody and charged with first-degree arson, first-degree malicious burning, and reckless endangerment. He is currently being held without bond.
The fire caused an estimated $300,000 in damage. Residents displaced by the blaze were temporarily sheltered in the building’s community room with assistance from the American Red Cross. All other residents were able to return later that day.
By Jimmy Key