Hagerstown Man Charged with Arson After Fire Damages Home Where Children Were Staying

A Hagerstown man was taken into custody early Sunday morning after allegedly setting fire to his estranged partner’s clothing, resulting in damage to a nearby residence where his two children were sleeping at the time.

According to officials, 41-year-old Brian Allen Blank faces several charges, including first-degree arson and malicious burning. The incident occurred shortly before 3:00 a.m. on March 23, when emergency responders were dispatched to a home on Corbett Street. Firefighters from the Hagerstown Fire Department arrived to find burning clothing in the front yard. They extinguished the fire before it could fully spread to the house, which was occupied by the couple’s 17- and 11-year-old children.

Deputy State Fire Marshals, along with Hagerstown Police, responded to the scene and found that Blank had attempted to enter the house as officers arrived but was quickly detained. Investigators determined that he had deliberately doused his estranged partner’s belongings with gasoline and ignited them outside the home. The fire caused additional damage to the front porch and entrance of the residence.

The children’s mother was contacted, identified the damaged items as hers, and took custody of the children. Blank was arrested and transported to the Washington County Detention Center, where he remains held without bond pending further legal proceedings.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors, based upon information from the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office

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