Knoxville Man Arrested and Charged with Arson After Allegedly Setting Home Ablaze

According to a press release from the Office of the State Fire Marshal, a 25-year-old Knoxville man has been charged with multiple offenses, including arson, following a house fire in Knoxville, Maryland. The incident occurred late Saturday night, prompting a response from firefighters and leading to an investigation by Deputy State Fire Marshals.

The fire broke out shortly before 11:35 p.m. on June 6, 2026, at a residence located at 2223 Kaetzel Road. Upon arrival, emergency personnel discovered the house was intentionally set on fire. During the initial investigation, witnesses living nearby reported seeing the sole occupant of the home, identified as Austin David Brown, leaving the area shortly after the fire began. Investigators were unable to locate Brown at the scene and subsequently issued an arrest warrant.

Further investigation provided additional evidence linking Brown to the incident. On June 8, 2026, Deputy State Fire Marshals received new information from a local resident, including security camera footage that reportedly corroborated Brown’s involvement. Later that same day, investigators received word that Brown had returned to the vicinity.

Responding to this information, Deputy State Fire Marshals located Brown on Weverton Road in Knoxville. According to the press release, upon being spotted, Brown fled into a wooded area, initiating a search effort. The Maryland State Police Aviation Command and K-9 units were called in to assist deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, who were already on scene.

After an approximately 40-minute search, Brown surrendered and was taken into custody without incident. He was transported to the Washington County Detention Center to face charges. Brown has been formally charged with first-degree arson, first-degree malicious burning, malicious destruction of property valued over $1,000, and animal cruelty. Following his appearance before a District Court Commissioner, Brown was ordered held without bond.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal is dedicated to fire safety through education, inspection, investigation, and fire protection engineering. For those with information regarding fires or seeking fire safety advice, the Office of the State Fire Marshal can be contacted at 1-800-525-3124 or through their website. An arson hotline is also available at 1-800-492-7529 for reporting suspicious fire-related activity.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Office of the State Fire Marshal

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