Maryland State Fire Marshal

News Release
Martin OMalley Governor William E. Barnard State Fire Marshal

Arson at Storage Unit Leads to Arrest

CHARLES COUNTY, MD (June 23, 2013) Around 12:35 am, the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office was requested to respond for a fire at Affordable Mini Storage off of 72 Industrial Park Drive in Waldorf, Charles County. An investigation was conducted and lead to the arrest of 43 year old, Michael Demauro of College Point, New York. The Waldorf and La Plata Volunteer Fire Departments were alerted to respond to a fire involving a mobile motor home at the Affordable Mini Storage. Approximately 20 firefighters responded and extinguished the fire within 5 minutes. The Charles County Sheriff's Office was also alerted to the incident for a possible assault. The Sheriff's Office determined an assault occurred prior to the intentional setting of the fire, and detained Demauro. Further investigation revealed, Demauro intentionally set the mobile motor home on fire inside of the storage facility. Demauro was transported to the Charles County Detention Center by the Charles County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's Office charged Demauro with Assault, Second Degree. Upon the completion of the fire investigation, State Fire Marshal's charged Demauro with Arson, Second Degree and Malicious Burning, First Degree. He is currently waiting a bond review hearing at the Charles County Detention Center. The fire destroyed the mobile motor home and then spread to a 2000 Limousine and a small river boat. Damages were estimated to total $60,000. ###
The Office of the State Fire Marshal is an agency of the Department of State Police dedicated to helping protect citizens from fire and explosion through a comprehensive program of education, inspection, investigation and fire protection engineering. For more information on fire safety call 1-800-525-3124, log onto our website at: www.firemarshal.state.md.us and/or follow us on Facebook under Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal.

Media contact: Caryn L. McMahon, Deputy State Fire Marshal; 240-435-0804

1201 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, MD 21208