Maryland State Fire Marshal
News Release Martin O’Malley Governor
Brian S. Geraci State Fire Marshal
Inmates Charged for False Fire Alarm CHARLES COUNTY, MD (October 2, 2013) – The Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office and the Charles County Detention Center investigated two false fire alarm incidents at the Charles County Detention Center over the past two months. The Charles County Detention Center, located at 6905 Crain Highway in La Plata, is protected by an automatic sprinkler system throughout the facility. On two separate dates, two sprinkler heads were intentionally broken causing a false fire alarm to be activated. Each broken sprinkler head causes an estimated $350 damages to the property. On August 22, 2013, a sprinkler head was intentionally broken by Tyler Springer (19) while in his individual cell. On September 21, 2013, an additional sprinkler head was broken in a shared cell of Tyler Springer (19) and Rachard Marshall (18). Subsequently, Springer has been charged with two counts of False Fire Alarm and Destruction of Property Under $500. Marshall was charged with one count of False Fire Alarm and Destruction of Property Under $500. A false fire alarm can create a risk by placing unnecessary emergency personnel and equipment on the roads, and can cause a sense of complacency with occupants of the affected building.
### 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