Wednesday, January 9, 2013
The school district plans to continue its project on a student-built home that broke out in fire.
Prince George's County Public Schools are "saddened and disappointed" by what appears to be an intentional fire at one of its student-built homes in Clinton, MD, spokesman Briant Coleman said. Two fires occurred in the same neighborhood within a week and have been ruled "suspicious" by the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department. One of the homes was no longer owned by the school system. "We sold it," said Coleman. As for the other home, he said, the work will go on. "Our students have been working extremely hard on this project, and we will continue to work closely with the Foundation for Applied Construction Technology for Students (FACTS) Board of Directors to ensure the project moves forward in spite of this devastating setback," …
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Seven firefighters were injured as a result of the February attack.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is now offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in connection with the Riverdale Heights arson attack that injured seven firefighters in February. On the night of Feb. 24, units responded to a report of heavy flames at 6404 57th Ave. As firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze from inside, a gust of wind swept through the structure, creating "fireball-like conditions." Seven members of the Riverdale Fire Department and Bladensburg Volunteer Fire Department were transported to Medstar Washington Hospital Center with burns, fractures, and other injuries. Two remained there for an extended period of time, the last of whom—Bladensburg Sgt. Kevin O'Toole—was finally…
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Gerard McBurnie Dixon, Jr., 23, of Bladensburg was arrested Wednesday by out-of-state law enforcement.
A former Riverdale volunteer firefighter has been charged with first-degree arson in connection with a 2008 blaze in Hyattsville, according to Prince George's County fire officials. Gerard McBurnie Dixon, Jr., 23, of Bladensburg was arrested Wednesday by out-of-state law enforcement and is awaiting extradition back to the county, PGFD spokesman Mark E. Brady said in a statement. Dixon is accused of "maliciously setting fire" to a home at 4504 Kennedy St., located just south of Riverdale Park in Hyattsville. On June 29, 2008 at 3:25 a.m., members of Riverdale Fire Department and nearby stations were called to the address after a report of a burning house. A firefighter sustained minor injuries while battling the heavy flames. Dixon was …
