Man Seriously Injured In Apartment Fire Ruled As Arson

LAUREL, MD — An apartment in Laurel caught fire Sunday shortly before 9 p.m. and one resident was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

Investigators ruled the fire as arson Monday afternoon and arrested a suspected who lived at the apartment. Ten families were displaced because of the fire, officials said.

Harford County sheriff's deputies were called to to the 9500 block of Muirkirk Road in Laurel to serve a protective order and emergency petition for a psychiatric evaluation. When deputies attempted to serve the orders, they discovered that Floyd Rich V had barricaded the front door. While barricaded inside, Rich set fire within the apartment, which quickly spread and impacted multiple adjoining units, officials said.

Prince George's county firefighters were called to the multi-family home located in the 9500 block of Muirkirk Road for a report of a fire. Firefighters arrived at the scene to find a "well advanced fire" shooting through the third floor, so a second alarm was sounded, according to the Prince George's County Fire and Rescue Department.

As the fire intensified, Rich was seen jumping from his balcony attempting to flee. Once on the ground, deputies restrained him and took him safely into custody. Rich sustained burns to his forehead, neck and arm. He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and later released, according to the police department.

After the fire was extinguished, firefighters remained on the scene to monitor hot spots. A man who lived there was treated at the hospital for serious but not life-threatening injuries, the fire department reported.

The suspect, Floyd Rich V, was arrested after investigators from PGFD, the Arson Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives tied him to the fire, officials said.

Rich was identified as the suspected arsonist and taken into custody without incident by the Prince George's County Sheriff's Office.

He was treated for injuries he experienced in the fire and has been charged with:

• First-degree arson;
• Malicious destruction of property;
• Reckless endangerment.