Joint Investigation Leads to Arrest After Hagerstown Fire

HAGERSTOWN, MD News (3/26/2024) – A joint investigation between the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal and the Hagerstown Fire Marshal’s Office led to the arrest of a Hagerstown man early Tuesday morning.

Kevin Lee Spielman, 60, was charged after they determined he was responsible for setting a fire inside the former Snook’s Poultry Sunday evening.

At around 6:30 p.m., the Hagerstown Fire Department and multiple surrounding departments were dispatched for a building fire at 26 W. Baltimore Street. Firefighters found heavy smoke from the 2-1/2 story wood-framed combination residential/commercial structure. It took an estimated 90 firefighters several hours to extinguish the stubborn blaze. Firefighters said the building’s construction at 22 W. Baltimore Street minimized damage to that building. Two firefighters sustained minor injuries and have since been released.

Investigators with the Hagerstown Fire Marshal’s Office and the Office of the State Fire Marshal worked throughout the night and into Monday evening and concluded the fire was intentionally set. With the assistance of various surveillance cameras, investigators were able to identify Spielman as a suspect.

Due to several ceilings and sections collapsing within the building, investigators requested canines from the Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Fire Department Urban Search and Rescue Team. This team was readily available after they had responded earlier to a building collapse in Hancock. Teams searched the debris and concluded nobody was inside.

Spielman was charged with second-degree arson, first-degree malicious burning, fourth-degree burglary, second-degree and malicious destruction of property under $1,000, and reckless endangerment.

Hagerstown Fire Chief John DiBacco applauded the performance of the joint taskforce of fire marshals, stating, “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 future efforts of working collectively.”

Acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray commended the investigators’ diligence and efforts. “The arrest of this suspect reveals our 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.”

Spielman is currently being held without bond at the Washington County Detention Center.

Story by Hagerstown Fire Department