Building Fire- Shady Side
Date: Sunday, August 9, 2020
Time: 5:18 a.m.
Location/Address: Judah Temple Ministries, 1427 Snug Harbor Road, Shady Side, MD 20764
Type of Incident: Building Fire
Description of Structure/Property: Two-story house of worship
Injuries or Deaths: No injuries to occupants or responders
Estimated Dollar Loss: $10,000 (including fire damage, damage from the burglary, and damage to headstones)
Smoke Alarm/Sprinkler Status: Undetermined if smoke alarms activated, sprinklers not present
Assisting Fire Departments: Dunkirk Volunteer Fire Department
Number of Alarms: One alarm
Number of Responding Firefighters: 29
Time to Control: 10 minutes
Discovered By: Neighbor
Area of Origin: Vestibule
Preliminary Cause: Incendiary
Additional Information: Anne Arundel County 911 received a call reporting a fire at the Judah Temple Ministries on Snug Harbor Road. The first arriving firefighters reported nothing evident from the street on their arrival. Upon investigation, they located and quickly extinguished a fire in the vestibule area.
Firefighters requested members of the Anne Arundel County Fire and Explosives Investigation Unit to respond to the scene. Investigators determined that burglary and arson had occurred. Through investigations, a description of a person of interest was obtained. Fire investigators are seeking the public’s help in identifying and locating this person.
The person was described as a male with a medium complexion, approximately 6 feet tall, with a thin to average build.
The subject was last seen wearing a green jacket, dark/camouflaged pants and a head wrap or covering.
This is an active and fluid criminal investigation. Investigators are requesting that anyone who may have seen anything unusual in that area that morning or have photos or video of the fire to contact them. They may be contacted at the TIPS line at (410)222-TIPS(8477) or by using the online form. Individuals may remain anonymous using either means of contact. They may also contact the lead investigator, Investigator Colin Orsini, at 410-222-8472.
